The answer to 'what do carpenter ant look like' is that carpenter ants are large, black or reddish-brown ants that can grow up to 1/2 inch long. They have a distinct heart-shaped head and elbowed antennae. Carpenter ants get their name from their habit of tunneling and nesting inside wood to create their colonies.
Carpenter ants are often mistaken for termites, but there are a few key differences. Carpenter ants have a narrow 'waist' between their thorax and abdomen, while termites have a more straight, thick body. Carpenter ants also have elbowed antennae, while termites have straight antennae.