CarpenterAnt

This carpenter ant was enjoying the (I assume) sweet nectar being released by the PineCone Ginger bud. Carpenter ants are fascinating creatures, as are ants in general. Unlike their cousins, the 'wood damaging' black carpenter ants, the Florida carpenter ant, Camponatus floridanus, searches out existing cavities in which to nest or excavate soft already rotten wood or Styrofoam. So it isn't really a threat to our homes. Termites have that covered! The carpenter ant doesn't sting but, and I can tell you this from personal experience, it will bite!