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Pharaoh Ant

Pharaoh Ant

Its name resulted from the mistaken belief of Linnaeus that this ant was one of the plagues of Egypt in the time of the Pharaohs. Pharaoh ants are thought to be native to the African region. This ant is found throughout the United States. Pharaoh ants have been strongly implicated in the spread of various disease pathogens.

Recognition

Workers are about 1/16” long. Their bodies are usually pale, varying from yellowish to reddish, with their abdomen often darker to blackish. Their antennas are 12 segmented with a 3 segment club. They do have stingers. Queens are about 1/8” long, can be winged, and are slightly darker in color than workers. Males are about 1/16”, winged, black in color, and their antenna are straight not elbowed.

Habits

Colonies tend to be large with workers numbering in the thousands to several hundred-thousand. These ants are of particular importance in hospitals where they will enter wounds, enter in-use IV bottles, seek moisture from the mouths of sleeping infants, etc… More than a dozen pathogenic bacteria have been found on Pharaoh ants collected in hospitals. 
Inside, Pharaoh ants nest in warm, humid areas near sources of food and/or water. Nests are usually located in inaccessible areas such as wall voids, behind baseboards, in furniture, under floors, and between linens. The workers range widely from the nest in search of food and water, and establish trails to food and water sources. They commonly use electrical and telephone withes as a highway system to travel through walls and between floors. Pharaoh ants are common problems in commercial food handling establishments such as hotels, grocery stores, hospitals, and in apartment complexes. They have a wide preference in food, ranging from syrups to fruits, pies, meats, and dead insects. 
 

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