Photo Album: Ants Frolic in Fair Haven, NJ
Pennsylvania Carpenter Ant
After a close inspection I identified them as Pennsylvania carpenter ants. They were trailing from the bird feeders back to the deck on the rear of the house.
What Are Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants get their name because they excavate wood in order to build their nests. Their excavation results in tunnels inside wood structures. Carpenter ants range in size from one-quarter inch for a worker ant to up to three-quarters inch for a queen.
Attracted to the Moist Wood
Carpenter ants are especially drawn to wood that is or has been wet and damaged by mold - hence why they were trailing all along the deck area.
Sealed Their Fate
I applied a liquid residual along the entire exterior and also applied a granular bait around the property and affected areas. The ants will bring either of these treatments back to the colony and share it among the other ants. Unknowingly, they are contributing to their demise and in a short amount of time, they will be eliminated.