Class
Insects
Range
They are found all over the eastern U. S., west to Texas.
Habitat
They build their nest in wood. They really like wood that is wet.
Body Traits
They are reddish to black in color. Males and females will grow wings to swarm when it is time to expand the nest. They are up to about 1/2" long.
Habits
They don’t sting, but when bothered they put out a strong smell. They invade homes and chew into the woodwork. They can cause a lot of damage.
Diet
They eat dead insects, live insects, fruit juices and honeydew (a sugary liquid made by other insects like aphids and scales).
Reproduction
They have large nests made up of 1 queen, 2,500 workers, and some males. It takes 3-6 years before they swarm (grow wings and fly away to mate) and make a new nest. They dig tunnels into wood and the underlying ground called galleries, where they nest.
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All text on Exploring Nature was written by author, Sheri Amsel
Here is an example of citing this page:
Amsel, Sheri. “Insecta.” Ants (Carpenter). Exploring Nature Educational Resource. © 2005 - 2010. September 2, 2010. <http://exploringnature.org/db/detail.php?dbID=43&detID=929>
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- Download Hi-Res B&W Diagram
- Download Hi-Res Color Diagram
- Download Hi-Res In-Habitat Poster
