Why do carpenter ants burrow into wood?

• A. To escape predators
• B. To raise young
• C. To nest in soil
• D. To store food

Answer: (B)

Carpenter ants excavate wood to create a secure nesting space for their colony, including the queen and the developing young. The hollowed galleries inside the wood provide brood chambers and protection, allowing eggs to hatch into larvae and later become workers. They don’t primarily use wood to store food, nor do they nest in soil as their main site, and escaping predators isn’t the core reason for the digging. The wood serves as a nesting habitat that supports growth and reproduction of the colony.