Do carpenter ants feed on wood?

Carpenter ants do not feed on wood for nutrition. Instead, they excavate wood to create nesting sites. This activity can often lead to structural damage, as they tunnel through wood, but their diet primarily consists of sugar, proteins, and other foods found in their environment, such as honeydew produced by aphids or pests.

The option about them using wood only for architecture accurately captures this aspect of their behavior. While they depend on wood for creating their nests, such as in trees or wooden structures, wood itself does not serve as a food source.

This understanding highlights the importance of identifying carpenter ants’ habits appropriately to manage and prevent infestations effectively.