carpenter ant

noun

1. a black or brown ant of the genus Camponotus that nests in the wood of decaying or dead trees in which it bores tunnels for depositing its eggs.

Word History and Origins

Origin of carpenter ant¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Turns out birds love to eat aphids, carpenter ants, termites, and all types of potential pests.

From Seattle Times

Most worker carpenter ants have one of two fates: They either become foragers who look for food or soldiers who defend the nest.

From Science Magazine

While carpenter ants are pesky to homeowners, forests would be stacked to the brim with dead wood without the decomposing power of wood-destroying insects.

From Washington Post

They looked like carpenter ants in their black suits.

From Literature

To keep the stump under your carving from rotting, try drilling holes near the base and inserting rods made of borate, a mineral that stops rot and also controls termites and carpenter ants.

From Washington Post