How can you identify a carpenter ant infestation?

Identifying a carpenter ant infestation often involves recognizing specific physical signs associated with their presence. The presence of wood shavings and large black ants is a clear indicator of carpenter ants, as these ants excavate wood to create their nests, which leads to the production of fine wood shavings or "frass." The size and color of the ants can further solidify the identification, as carpenter ants are typically larger than other common ant species and often appear black or bicolored.

While hearing noises in the walls can be a sign of various pests, it is not a definitive characteristic of carpenter ants specifically. Finding sticky webs in corners usually relates to spider presence rather than ants, and strange odors are more often linked to other pest infestations or decaying matter. Therefore, seeing the combination of wood shavings and large black ants is the most distinctive and reliable method for confirming a carpenter ant infestation.