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Anatomy of Black Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants can be found in rotting trees and places where there is damp or decaying wood, such as in the walls of a house. Like all insects, carpenter ants have six legs and three-part bodies that consist of a head, thorax and abdomen. The carpenter ant anatomy has unique properties, which distinguish it from other types of ants.

The Head
- The head of a carpenter ant is comprised of three ocelli, an eye-like structure that is sensitive to light, but does not form a visual image. It features a clypeus, which protects the uppermost mouthparts, a left and right mandible, a scape (the first section of the antenna that attaches to the head itself) and an antenella scrobe, where the antenna can be folded up and protected. It also includes a frontal carnia (an elevated ridge).
The Thorax
- The thorax of a carpenter ant has a round, evenly shaped surface and is connected to the abdomen by a single node or petiole. The round, evenly shaped thorax distinguishes the carpenter ant from other ant species.
The Abdomen
- Myrmecologists subdivide the abdominal into three parts: First is the propodeum, attached to the thorax, next is the metasoma, which is comprised of the waist and finally the gaster or the abdominal proper.
The Leg
- The leg of the carpenter ant has six parts. The parts from superior to inferior are the coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia, tarsus and pre-tarsus.
Size
- Carpenter ants are among the largest ants. They can range in size from 3/8- to 1/2-inch long and winged queen ants may be as large as 1 inch. You should note that size may not be a reliable characteristic used to identify carpenter ants, as the workers of some carpenter ant species are no larger than 3/16 of an inch.

Insects & Science