Pharaoh Ant

Pharaoh Ant

Identification

Small, around 1/16 to 1/12 inch (1.5-2.0 mm); yellowish to red; often confused with thief ant, but has 3 segments in the club-like structure at the end of the antennae.

Environment

While detecting a pharaoh ant infestation is often easy, locating the nest may prove difficult, as the pest tends to colonize in inconspicuous areas of the house. Pharaoh ants like to colonize warm, humid areas indoors such as near drains, pipes, or wiring. Common nesting sites include between wall voids, books, and sheets of paper, behind baseboards and refrigerators, in clothing, and even inside electrical switch boxes. Pharaoh ants may forage as far as 115 feet away from the nest, which can make it difficult to locate the root of the problem.

Threats

Pharaoh ants that nest in wooden structures cause significant and costly damage to the wood. They also cause damage to the foam insulation. Pharaoh ants do not sting, but they bite. Though the ant's bites are not poisonous, they can cause pain and transmit diseases. These pests can contaminate food, sterile equipment and even wounds in the flesh. These ants can be found in sealed sterile dressing, medical equipment and even patient wounds in hospitals. These insects feed in places like drains; refuse bins etc. that result unhygienic. Their ability to infest sterile supplies in hospitals is of particular concern. These species of ants are known to spread organisms like Clostridium and Streptococcus. They transmit Clostridium that could cause tetanus, botulism, or necrotizing intestinal tissue.

Treatment

While seeing one or two ants may seem harmless, the pest reproduces rapidly under optimal conditions. Do not spray the ants; spraying typically worsens the problem, as pharaoh ants are known for budding, or creating satellite nests very quickly after sensing danger. Strategic baiting remains the best way eliminate pharaoh ant infestations. However, using the wrong types of baits may also lead to budding. Trained professionals locate trails and place enticing baits appropriately for effective control. The process of controlling a pharaoh ant infestation may take several months and up to a year, due to the heavy network of nests the creatures often boast.