Do Carpenter Ants Eat Wood?
No — carpenter ants don’t eat wood, but they do excavate it, which can cause significant structural damage over time. Here’s how it actually works:
These ants chew and remove wood to create smooth, clean tunnels and nesting galleries.
The wood they remove is pushed out of the nest as sawdust-like debris (called frass), often mixed with insect parts and soil.
They prefer moist, softened, or decaying wood, but they can expand into sound wood once established.
Do Carpenter Ants Eat Pressure Treated Wood?
Pressure-treated lumber is infused with preservatives that resist decay, fungi, and insects. Because carpenter ants prefer moist, decayed, or fungus-softened wood, treated lumber is normally far less attractive. They may still excavate it if:
Moisture has compromised the treatment (chronic leaks, ground contact, poor ventilation)
The wood has begun to soften or rot despite treatment
They are expanding an existing colony from nearby damaged wood
The treatment has weathered or aged and no longer provides full protection
Pressure-treated wood slows carpenter ant damage — but it does not make a structure immune.
Do Carpenter Ants Eat Cedar?
Cedar contains natural oils and compounds that make it more resistant to moisture, decay, and many insects. Because carpenter ants prefer soft, water-damaged, or decaying wood, cedar tends to hold up better than many other species. They may still attack cedar if:
The wood becomes wet long-term
Fungal decay softens the fibers
The cedar is weathered, cracked, or weakened
There is an active colony nearby seeking expansion space
Even rot-resistant woods can become vulnerable once moisture gets in. Cedar is not a food source, but it’s not completely immune to carpenter ant excavation — especially when moisture problems are present.
What Do Carpenter Ants Eat?
Carpenter ants have very specific food preferences — and none of them include wood. Wood is only a nesting material, not a food source. Here’s what carpenter ants actually eat:
Carbohydrates (their main energy source)
They are strongly attracted to sweet substances, including:
Honeydew from aphids (their favorite natural food)
Plant nectars
Fruit juices
Syrups and sugary spills
Sweets in kitchens (cookies, candies, soda residues)
Carbs fuel worker activity and colony maintenance.
Proteins (for brood development)
Proteins are vital for growing larvae. Common protein sources include:
Soft-bodied insects (termites, caterpillars, spiders, other ants)
Dead insects
Meat scraps
Pet food (especially kibble left out overnight)
Household protein residues (grease, fats)
Workers bring proteins back to larvae, which partially digest and re-feed the workers — an important part of their food cycle.
Water
Carpenter ants need consistent moisture. They collect water from:
Leaks
Condensation
Damp wood
Plant surfaces
Pet bowls and sinks
Carpenter ants’ presence indoors often indicates available food sources, and a nearby moisture issue supporting a nest.
Do Carpenter Ants Eat Insects?
Carpenter ants are opportunistic predators and scavengers when it comes to insects. They primarily target soft-bodied or slow-moving insects that are easy to subdue and carry back to the nest:
Other ants: They may prey on smaller ant species, especially during territorial disputes or raids.
Larvae and pupae of insects: They often raid nests of beetles, flies, or other ants to feed on the immature stages.
Soft-bodied insects: Aphids, caterpillars, grubs, and maggots are easy prey.
Dead insects (scavenging): They’ll carry dead insects from indoors or outdoors back to their colony.
Worker ants bring prey back to the colony to feed larvae, which partially digest the food and regurgitate it for adult ants. Protein from insects is essential for brood development, while adult ants rely more on sugary foods for energy.
Do Carpenter Ants Eat Termites?
Yes, carpenter ants do eat termites. Termites are a common protein source for carpenter ants because they are soft-bodied and abundant, making them relatively easy prey. Carpenter ants will actively hunt live termites or scavenge dead ones, bringing them back to the colony to feed larvae.
Termites are primarily a protein source for the colony, not a main energy source. Adult carpenter ants typically rely on sugars for energy. Carpenter ants often hunt termites in or near wood structures where both species may coexist. This predation doesn’t necessarily control termite populations — it just supplements the ants’ diet.
Do Carpenter Ants Eat Animals?
Carpenter ants don’t eat animals in the sense of consuming them like a predator eating a whole animal, but they do consume animal-derived proteins. Here’s what that looks like:
Meat scraps and household protein: Small pieces of cooked or raw meat, pet food, or grease can be carried back to the nest. Workers process this protein and feed it to larvae, who partially digest it and regurgitate it for adult ants.
Not full predators of vertebrates: They do not attack or consume larger animals like mammals, birds, or reptiles.
Carpenter ants are omnivorous scavengers: their “animal diet” is limited to insects and other small protein sources. Adults rely mainly on sugary carbohydrates, while animal proteins are crucial for brood development.
Do Carpenter Ants Eat Plants?
Carpenter ants don’t eat wood or live plant tissue, but they do consume plant-derived foods — primarily sugary substances. They’re not herbivores in the traditional sense, but plants provide important energy sources.
Honeydew: Secreted by aphids, scale insects, and other sap-sucking insects. This is one of their favorite natural foods.
Plant nectar: Flowers, buds, and nectar-rich exudates provide carbohydrates.
Fruits: Juicy fruits, overripe or damaged fruits, and fruit juices are very attractive.
Sugary plant exudates: Sap leaks, tree wounds, or sticky plant secretions.
They don’t chew or digest healthy wood, bark, or leaves. Wood is only used for nest galleries, not nutrition.
Carpenter ants use plants mainly for carbohydrates, while protein and water come from insects, other animal sources, and moisture-rich environments.
Do Carpenter Ants Eat Sugar?
Yes, carpenter ants actively seek out sugar and other sweet substances. Sugars are a primary energy source for adult workers, fueling foraging, nest maintenance, and general activity.
Common Sugar Sources They Prefer
Honeydew from aphids or scale insects (their natural favorite)
Fruit juices and overripe fruits
Syrups, candies, jams, and other household sweets
Soda or sugary spills
How They Use Sugar
Adult ants consume sugars directly for energy.
Workers also share sugary liquids with larvae via trophallaxis (regurgitation).
Sugars help sustain long-distance foraging and support colony growth, alongside protein for brood development.
Sugar is their go-to energy fuel, and it’s one of the easiest ways to attract or bait them effectively.