Carpenter ants have long been recognized as a threat to wooden buildings. Much has been learned and written over the years about why infestations occur in wood-frame buildings and how to stop them. In recent years, however, the use of stressed-skin panels – rigid foam insulation sandwiched between layers of flakeboard, drywall, or other sheet goods – has added a new chapter to the book. Much remains unknown about the scope of this problem. But based on my experience, I think anyone building in infestationprone areas should think before using rigid insulation products. Colonial Bugs "Carpenter ant" refers to species of ants in the sub-family Formicinae, which typically nest in wood – usually, but not necessarily, in wood that has been
