Yes - Ants control the moisture content. Too moist or too dry stalls the
decay pathogen. In this sense the ants help the tree.

--
Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.


"Lar" wrote in message
...
symplastless wrote:
I just added a little sample on carpenter ants.

Please review.

http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT20...galleries.html

Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Arborist

Might be missing one step from time of damage to ants moving in. The wood
inside the barrier was altered but not from the injury itself but from the
results of the injury. By allowing water to accumulate, then rot to set
into the wood. There was probably a long period of time of moisture rot of
the wood before the ants actually moved in, then they now clean out the
rotted wood creating their galleries. The ants are beneficial to the
trees. If your tree guy ever states the ants are killing your trees...find
a new tree guy.

As far as ants moving into this area if it where used in construction, I
would guess over 80% of all carpenter ant jobs I do on homes has nothing
to do with wood at all, just a hollow area that holds warmth. The ones I
do find in wood the vast majority of time it is hollow cored doors or
behind crown molding, once again not important the wood, but just a hollow
area to nest. So if ants did find such wood in a structure they may nest
in it but usually there will be countless other areas they find more
suited.

Lar