Pharaoh Ant
Physical Features
Pharaoh ants vary in color from a golden yellow, red with black markings on it’s top abdomen. Queens are larger than worker. Workers are 1/16 to 1/12 inch long and Queens 3/16.
Life Cycle
Complete Metamorphosis
The pharaoh ant develops from egg to adult in a 38 day period. Queens lay 10-12 eggs at a time totaling 400. The eggs develop in 7-8 days before a larva emerges. The larva feed from around 18 days then pupate an average of 12 days. They live in large colonies with multiple queens. Queens will live for at least one year while males will die 3-5 weeks after mating. Unlike other ants the queen and males do not have nuptial flights; instead, to start new colonies they will move away from the existing colony in a process called budding. Many times satellite colonies are connected allowing for brood, workers and food to be shared between these nests. These large colonies can reach worker populations over 300,000.
Habits
- Diet: Omnivores feeding on fats, proteins and carbohydrates including other insects.
- Activity: More active during evening and in environments including monsoon seasons. Will be active year round indoors.
- Preferred Climate: Humid conditions usually in temperatures ranging 80-90 degrees.
- Defense: Budding behavior is a defense when danger is present.
- Cautions: Primarily found indoors becoming a major nuisance.
- Home Invasion: Pharaoh ants will live in any place that provides prime conditions with heat and moisture prevalent. They will move following pipes and electrical conduit to other areas of a home. Nests inside are primarily in wall voids near heating units or in bathrooms/kitchens where more humid. However, pharaoh’s have been found in less expected places including in linens, curtain rods, wood piles and gutters.
Helpful Hints for Control
- Repair any leaky pipes and minimize any potential water collection.
- Keep yards well maintained to minimize harborage points and food sources.
- IPM approach to control necessary to successfully reduce the potential budding behavior and expansion of colonies.
Interesting Fact
Twenty types of bacteria of medical importance have been isolated from pharaoh ants.
