What distinguishes a carpenter ant infestation from a termite or wood-boring beetle infestation?

The presence of galleries with very smooth sides is indicative of a carpenter ant infestation because carpenter ants create nests by excavating wood. They do this in a way that results in smooth, clean galleries since they remove wood material and do not consume it. This distinguishes them from termites, which do not create smooth galleries as they eat and digest wood, leading to rough, irregular tunnel surfaces. Wood-boring beetles also create galleries, but their characteristic is often associated with more irregular surfaces and the presence of frass, which is a byproduct of their feeding.

While other indicators, such as winged pests, external damage, or frass, might suggest infestation by various wood-destroying organisms, they do not specifically highlight the smoothness of the galleries, which is a unique feature of carpenter ants. So, identifying these smooth-surfaced galleries is key in diagnosing a carpenter ant issue compared to other wood-destroying pests.