Carpenter ants are one of the most damaging non-termite pests Dallas-Fort Worth homeowners face. Unlike termites, carpenter ants don't eat wood — they tunnel through it to build nests, hollowing out support beams, fascia boards, window frames, door frames, and decks over time. A mature carpenter ant colony can do thousands of dollars of structural damage before a homeowner ever realizes there's a problem.

The species you see across DFW is primarily the black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus), with red and black variations also common. They're the largest ants you'll see in North Texas — workers are 1/4 to 3/4 inch long with smooth, single-node bodies and a curved thorax. Carpenter ants prefer moisture-damaged wood, which means roof leaks, plumbing leaks, irrigation overspray, and poorly sealed window flashings are the entry points that turn a healthy DFW home into a target.

The CanMan's carpenter ant program is built around finding the parent colony — not just spraying the ants you see. We trace foraging trails, locate moisture-damaged wood, identify satellite colonies, and use targeted non-repellent product that workers carry back to the queen. Surface sprays alone almost always fail with carpenter ants.

Carpenter ants are active across all of DFW, with heavier pressure in older neighborhoods with mature trees and original wood framing — Highland Park, University Park, Lakewood, Oak Cliff, Bishop Arts, and historic Fort Worth see steady carpenter ant pressure year after year. Suburbs with heavy landscape trees and irrigation — Plano, Coppell, Southlake, Flower Mound, Las Colinas — also see frequent infestations. New construction isn't immune: any home with a roof leak, irrigation overspray, or a window flashing problem can develop a carpenter ant nest within a few seasons. DFW carpenter ant activity peaks April through October but continues year-round in heated structures.