Pharaoh Ant

Identification

• 1/16 - 1/12 inch long
• two nodes (bumps between middle and rear body sections)
• workers of the same size
• 12-segmented antennae with 3-segmented club
• golden yellow to red with darker markings down the back

Nesting Habits

• wide variety of secluded places in cracks and crevices: countertops, baseboards, wall voids, under floors
• prefer a warm and humid environment (e.g., near furnaces, hot water pipes and heat ducts)
• can travel along pipes and wiring
• more likely to nest indoors than other ants
• can have very large colonies
• can have multiple queens in one colony

Diet

• sweets, protein, fat/grease
• syrups, jellies, grease, cake, pet food, dead insects, toothpaste, soap and several other things most insects would not feed on

Significance

• contaminate sweets and greases
• serious pest of dormitories, hospitals, schools and apartments

IPM Recommendations

• Control may be hard because nests can be difficult to find and there may be multiple nesting sites in the building.
• Use a bait specific to the pharaoh ant.
• Baits can take time (months) to eliminate infestation.
• Do not use liquid or dust insecticides; they could spread ants, making the problem worse.

Additional Resources:

IPM for Ants: Integrated Pest Management in Sensitive Environments (University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension)