Unlike modern authors, Homer is not quick to reveal his personal beliefs; rather, they come about subtly, through the dialogue between two characters.
Harvester ant. Harvester ant is a common name for any of the species or genera of ants that collect seeds (called seed predation), or mushrooms as in the case of Euprenolepis procera, which are stored in the nest in communal chambers called granaries.
Carpenter ants are a large species of ant that is very common in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. They nest in wood and in large numbers they can cause significant structural damage. Carpenter ant workers are about 1/8 to 1/2 an inch long, depending on which specific species you are dealing with.