In the role nature intended for them, carpenter ants break down rotting wood and leave behind richly fertilized soil. In our homes though, the only thing they leave behind is crumbling walls and expensive repair work. Carpenter ants can reduce solid structures to hollow shells but unlike termites, they don't do so by eating and digesting wood. Instead they burrow through it, creating networks of tunnels and leaving behind piles of sawdust in their quest to feast on the preferred protein and sugar meals found in most homes. The presence of carpenter ants in your home is serious business-they are difficult to eradicate and in most cases will require the services of a professional pest service to control and prevent further ant infestations. The longer carpenter ants reside in and around your home, the larger their network of nests will be and the greater damage they will cause to your home.