Post B6koiKUHc0CHnLsrQW by wyatt_h_knott@mstdn.social
(DIR) More posts by wyatt_h_knott@mstdn.social
(DIR) Post #B6kn0u5pln3zWoB2tU by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-05-28T11:11:31Z
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Many sources say that Carpenter ants are "nocternal" and it's true they can be very active at night... but consistently I find that Camponotus pennslyvanicus is most active in the early morning at this time of year. To see active ants 5am to 7am is a great time. 5pm? the same colony won't even have any workers out. This is interesting since most ants become more active over the day because they need warmth to move. Could they do this to avoid other ants? Carpenter ant grindset?
(DIR) Post #B6kn6o1ZFL7aRYzo3c by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-05-28T11:12:35Z
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Both the colony in the courtyard, my pet colony, and the one in the park are out in force in the morning and so scarce you don't even know they are there by afternoon.
(DIR) Post #B6knZ4dl3ug65ML2p6 by jmax@mastodon.social
2026-05-28T11:17:39Z
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@futurebird Makes perfect sense to me. I have multiple relatives who are carpenters, and all of them start work very early and knock off well before 5 as a result.
(DIR) Post #B6koiKUHc0CHnLsrQW by wyatt_h_knott@mstdn.social
2026-05-28T11:30:31Z
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@futurebird I wonder if it's related to dew.
(DIR) Post #B6kowLMX9hLKYxwRUm by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-05-28T11:33:05Z
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@wyatt_h_knott That could make sense. Though I've been struggling to determine what the carpenter ants outside are doing when they are out. They aren't carrying anything or attacking any other ants. They could be collecting water... It'd be nice to see them doing that to confirm.
(DIR) Post #B6kpACcATbFfUCrYci by wyatt_h_knott@mstdn.social
2026-05-28T11:35:34Z
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@futurebird It occured to me because I recently dicovered a nest of carpenters in my porch - by seeing them occasionally at my sink. They are very polite and don't seem to come in the house uninvited... unless they are thirsty. And the lore in home repairman circles is that carpenter ants prefer damp wood, but I don't know if this is actually true or just trade myth.
(DIR) Post #B6kpOTsl4ZNF5wQnqq by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-05-28T11:38:11Z
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@wyatt_h_knott They love damp wood. The big myth is that they can bore into structurally sound wood. They just can't. But if the wood is soft, dry rot? wet rot? already attacked by other insects that actually eat wood? They will make homes in it. They also travel long distances so the sink ants may come from a colony a dozen meters away or more. A reliable fresh water source is a big deal to most ants.