Carpenter ants are social insects and live in colonies. Ant colonies include a collection of workers, one or more reproductive, eggs, larvae, and pupae. The colonies build structures called nests. Carpenter ants can nest in or around structures and can cause tremendous damage. Unlike the termite, carpenter ants do not use the wood for food. Carpenter ants generally cut smooth and clean galleries in the wood giving them their name carpenter ants. The making of the galleries within structures can lead to extreme amounts of damage to wood timbers.