What we call carpenter ants belong to the genus Camponotus. They are large, powerful ants that often nest in above ground cavities. These nests are frequently located in decaying trees. When carpenter ants establish nests in our homes, however, they can cause damage as the nests are enlarged.
Carpenter ants occur worldwide but they are most important as structural pests in temperate zones. This new reference book for the North American species is now available.