Wood Destroying Insects

Carpenter ant. Carpenter ants are large ants, about 13 to 15mm, that nest in hollows of wood. The nest is usually associated with wood decay or termite damage in a house. Outdoors, carpenter ants nest in mulch or debris. The Florida carpenter ant is red and black. Carpenter ants do not eat wood; they hollow it out for nests. Carpenter bee. Carpenter bees are 20 to 35 mm long. They closely resemble bumble bees, except the abdomen of a carpenter bee is a shiny metallic greenish- black, and the abdomen of a bumble bee is very hairy. These insects sometimes build their nests in solid wood such as weather boarding, railings, supports and trim of buildings. Their nests are in the form of tunnels three to six inches deep in the wood. The entrance hole is about 12mm in diameter. The holes are very clean and appear as though they were made by a drill. Damage to wood is seldom extensive.