Carpenter Ants are very common in the NW. These ants belong to the largest genus (Camponotus) in the Family Formicidae. Worldwide there are over 1000 species of Carpenter Ants----not all are wood destroying but when they are, they can do a lot of damage to wood structures. In North America there are about 20 species. In the NW we have mainly two of concern: C. Modoc and C. Vicinus. The “C” stands for Camponotus---the genus. C. Modoc is pretty easy to recognize----these ants are pretty much all black and bigger than any other kind of ant you are likely to find in the NW. Seeing these ants hanging out around your yard or in your home is always reason for concern and a Licensed Structural Pest Inspector should be consulted. It is a really good idea to capture a specimen or two in a zip-lock bag to show the inspector when they arrive. C. Vicinus ants are a little more difficult to distinguish because they can vary from partially red and mostly black to mostly red and some black. This coloration makes it easy to confuse them with Thatching Ants. Thatching ants can be a nuisance but are generally considered beneficial in the environment. These ants rarely invade homes but have been known to nest in wall cavities and other hollow structures of homes. Because Thatching Ants are not usually a concern in homes, when you see large ants streaming in and out of a home it is easy to think that they might be C. Vicinus, Carpenter Ants. All species of Carpenter ants have a smooth “back” or dorsum----no dents or indentations that would indicate that it is some other kind of ant. Seeing the notch on the dorsum of an ant requires some magnification----and difficult to determine with the naked eye. Here is a picture of some Thatching Ants that were found in a porch structure----there were hundreds of them streaming in and out of the opening under the floor boards. Pretty easy to think they might be Carpenter Ants. If you look close though, at the back of the ant from the side, you can see clearly that the back is not smooth----it has a notch----consistent with being a Thatching Ant and not a Carpenter Ant. This distinction makes a huge difference in protocols for treatment----even if any are necessary at all. 
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Thank you Charles - good post. Best, Gay
What's up with that T & G decking? What is the material? And I like the ant pictures too.
Gay, you are welcome
Glenn, it is old 5/4 VG Fir porch decking-----a little worse for wear :)
Charles, I had my share of run-ins with piles of thatching ants as a child. I'll let you keep getting the close-up photos, I've had enough already. Thanks for the info.
Very informational, great post. Thankfully I don't run across many ants:)
Yuck - for both types of ants. We had two instances where we had lots of carpenter ants and it turned out to be because they had infested some wet rotten wood. I still remember the painter hurling the wood to the ground from the 2nd floor and seeing all the ants crawling inside it.
I'm just curious...How do you get them in the ZipLock Bag? Do you just ask them politely to enter or do you have to actually touch them?
Sam, hopefully your experience didn't have to do with climbing on a pile :)
Erika, thanks
Margaret---but they are so cute :)
Amy, now don't tell me you have a problem with touching them? Actually if you hold the bag in their path you can usually get them to climb in on their own. Get them to climb onto anything and then stick that in the bag. I don't recommend sucking them up with a straw though :)
Yes Charlie...I do have a problem with touching them!!!! Just the thought of it makes my skin crawl...
Charie,
Other than specimens, I have yet to find those guys on a site, only modoc and/or other black varieties.
Amy, you just have to know where to grab them---how else are you going to get a saddle on them :)
Steve, yes---they don't seem as common in houses as modoc----had c. vicinus in a detached garage once
The ones at the top (Common Carpenters with their black coveralls) have decided to make a home for themselves in the maple in the front yard. I have to do something to keep them from coming in to live with us very soon.
Jack, they are a good critter to pay attention to for sure
Notch in the back, a thatching ant, smooth back, carpenter ant. We have black and red carpenter ants in Ct, no thatching ants.
Have to watch those guys and gals they can sure cause damage.
Hi Charles, I think the most famous ant in NC is the fire ant. They don't destroy wood, but if you happen to disturb an ant hill, you are in for a firestorm of ant stings. Been there, done it, got the scars to prove it. Thanks for the info on the ants of the NW.
Charles......the best part of winter is there are no bugs running around.....
Charles, learned something about ants today. Very interesting and suggested. Thanks for the info!
Charles - Those are the largest ants I've seen! They look like they belong in a horror movie.
Jim, here is a link to Connecticut Carpenter Ants you might enjoy :)
Carl & Ceil, for sure
Dale, you can keep your fire ants :)
Barbara, that seems to be true unless you have mild winters like Seattle
Rebecca, thanks
Mryl, they are indeed big
Hi Charles, This is very informative. I have seem the large carpenter ants before when I lived in Fla. They certainly can and do a lot damage.
Charles: What an excellent post and so instructive. I am going to check out the ants that around the house. During the warmer temperatures ants are a real problem here in Ottawa. I feel a little more informed on identifying if they are just a pest or a pest with a home structure problem. Thanks.
Charlie,
Some of the best photos I have seen of vicinus came from Don Hester in Wenatchee.
Do they help with thatched roof repairs?
Do they drive off the carpenter ants?
William, I have seen them in Florida as well----pretty big
Valerie, I am sure you have some varieties in Canada as well
Steve, you are right----great ones
Jay, that would be no and no---Croakster would be more help
Ants around my house just about make me crazy. I was on the warpath this spring to get rid of them.
Lizette, but they are so tiny---how could they bug you? :)
Since I began following your blogs I have learned a great deal. But, no offense, some of your photos are not very pretty! :)
Connie would that be mostly the pictures with bugs by any chance? :)
BUGS, ANTS, ETC. Yes! Creepy crawlies of any sort.
Connie----but they are my very favorite things to blog about :)