Pharaoh Ant

Category:

Actual Size: 1/16″ to ⅛”

Characteristics: Small; typically light yellow to red, with black markings on the abdomen. 

Legs: 6

Antennae: Yes

Wings: No

Habitat: Nests located in hard-to-reach areas near moisture, such as kitchens, bathrooms, interior wall voids, under floors, and behind baseboards.

Habits:

  • Often go unnoticed due to their small size and color.
  • Colonies are very large with over 300,000 individuals and multiple queens.
  • Potentially dangerous in hospitals due to their ability to transmit disease organisms.

Pharoah Ants in Central Florida

Known for being the most difficult household ant to control, Pharaoh ants are found throughout Florida. An invasive species, they build colonies that splinter off and form new colonies when disturbed. Due to their ability to rapidly form new colonies, Pharoah ant infestations can spread quickly in homes and buildings. Indoors, these ants nest in any well-protected and hidden areas throughout a structure and outdoors, prefer lawns and gardens. 

Pharaoh Ant Habitat

Foraging twenty-four hours a day, Pharaoh ants feed on live or dead insects, sweets, and proteins. They are attracted to moisture and will nest outside in shaded areas or under debris. In household structures, Pharaoh ant nests are often located in hard-to-reach areas near moisture. Favorite nesting sites are kitchens, bathrooms, interior walls voids, under floors, and behind baseboards and or window sills. In institutional settings, they are found in kitchens, laundries, boiler rooms, heating ducts, and pipes. Using electrical wires and plumbing pipes, worker ants can travel from room to room, spreading throughout a structure quickly. 

Pharaoh Ant Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Recognized for spreading more than a dozen disease pathogens, Pharaoh ants are known to transmit salmonella and streptococcus. They are potentially dangerous in hospitals due to their ability to spread disease organisms. Due to their small size, Pharaoh ants can access most spaces, contaminating food as they forage. Furthermore, they can survive most conventional household pest control treatments, establishing large colonies throughout a home or building. If a Pharaoh ant infestation is suspected, it is recommended to contact a licensed ant exterminator. 

Don’t wait until your home is overrun by ants. Contact Heron Home today!