Controlling the Invasive Pharaoh Ant

Monomorium pharaonis

What kind of creature can spread human diseases and drink from the mouths of babes in hospitals? The pharaoh ant!

These nightmarish insects (Monomorium pharaonis) were originally named pharaoh’s ants because they were mistakenly thought to have been one of the plagues of ancient Egypt.

Although originally from the tropics (and therefore a huge problem in Florida and Texas), this species readily infests heated buildings in cold climates, so it is a menace throughout the US.

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For reasons that we will describe, these troublesome insects are extremely difficult to control.

Read on to learn more about these tiny but fearsome creatures.

Why Pharaoh Ants Take Over So Easily

Pharaoh ants are very efficient at colonizing new territory and driving out the native species.

One of the main reasons that they can do this is the tendency of their colonies to spread by “budding.” What this means is that groups in one colony can just split off and start a whole new colony without having to swarm and start over.

They don’t even need a queen to start with. Workers can develop one, and this makes it even easier for groups to separate and start new colonies.

And unlike other ant species, which typically fight to the death when in adjoining colonies, pharaoh ants tend to get along with each other.

If you disturb them, they can just move their colony to another place.

In addition, they frequently survive conventional treatments to kill them. And the spread of colonies within a building makes it even more difficult to kill all of them simultaneously.

These factors make them such effective colonizers that the Texas Invasive Species Institute described their ability “to quickly invade and conquer new areas.”

How They Spread Pathogens in Hospitals

The ability of pharaoh ants to live inside extends from houses, apartments, and office buildings to hospitals and nursing homes. And they behave very badly!

They are so aggressive in their quest for water that they have been found drinking from the mouths of infants in hospitals or even from IV bags in use.

Since they have been found to harbor more than a dozen different human pathogens, including Salmonella, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, this is not a trivial matter.

This issue was first brought to light in a 1972 article in the prestigious medical journal the Lancet, which described the ability of the species to carry pathogens.

Regrettably, it is still a problem today. With their tiny size, it is virtually impossible to keep them out of hospitals. Their infestations are critical problems in both European and American hospitals.

Unlike most other species, they don’t need soil to live in, so they live readily in buildings in wall voids, electrical sockets, and even between sheets of linen.

They are particularly dirty and will crawl from the rims of toilet boils and inside drains back up to hospital food.

They can even infest maternity incubators and like to feed on the skin of burn victims!

Identification

How can you be sure that the ants infesting your yard or house are of the pharaoh variety? They are often mistaken for the Argentine ant.

Pharaoh ants are tiny – think 1/12 to 1/16 inches long. They are paler in color than many other invasive species – typically golden yellow to reddish brown. However, their abdomen is often much darker than the rest of the body.

The antennae of pharaoh ants have 12 segments forming a club of three segments at the end. In contrast, the antennae of Argentine ants have 12 segments, but the first one is as large as its head.

Distribution

No one is positive, but scientists generally think that the pharaoh ant originated from Northern Africa.

However, it has spread widely. As early as 1910, entomologists had noted that the species had spread throughout the inhabited world by trade.

This species is known as a common household pest throughout the world.

They require warm weather, but this does not stop them from being pests throughout the US due to their ability to readily live inside buildings.

However, they are a particular problem in the south. The Texas Invasive Species Institute states that Florida has “especially large numbers of” them and that they are the most commonly occurring indoor variety in Texas.

Biology

Pharaoh ants like warm, moist locations, so they are typically found in temperatures of 80 to 86 F and 80% humidity.

Their colonies can contain as few as a dozen ants to as many as several hundred thousand individuals.

As described previously, they have the unusual ability to spread their colonies by readily budding off and starting new ones.

Unlike most ants, this species does not swarm, so mating takes place within the nest.

The queens can live 4-12 months and produce as many as 400 eggs over their lifespans. Large colonies may have as many as several hundred females that can reproduce!

It takes about 38 days for workers to develop from eggs to adults.

Pharaoh Ant Nests

In warm climates, they can nest in your lawn or garden. You can often find them under debris.

Inside, pharaoh ants are amazingly versatile with their nests. These sites range from wall voids and areas around hot heating pipes to insulation, the hollows of curtain rods, within and behind kitchen appliances, and behind baseboards.

They will even nest under flooring or near hot water pipes in heating systems.

They will often travel between floors and through walls using hot water pipes or wiring.

If you leave fatty, sweet, or oily food out for even a short period of time, if you have an infestation, you will probably find a trail of ants to it.

If you attack them with insecticidal sprays, they will just split up into larger numbers of colonies and make your life even worse.

Controls

Many factors result in the designation of pharaoh ants as either one of the most or the most difficult type to control.

In addition to their tendency to bud off and start new colonies, the foraging workers are usually far away from their colony.

People often try to kill any they see. However, since the visible ones are only a small proportion of the colony, most will remain unscathed.

Ant Baits

Slow-acting baits are likely to be your best bet to control these troublesome critters. The foragers will collect them and take them back to their colony where they will kill the queen and the other workers.

However, given the tendency of these pests to have multiple nests, this can be a difficult strategy. If you live in a building with apartments, the whole building will have to be treated simultaneously.

And it is critical to treat ceilings, walls, floor voids – and even electrical wall outlets.

You need to make sure that in addition to their trails, you find the nests that are the original sources of the infestation.

The best baits to control pharaoh ants contain proteins or sweets. You should use non-repellent insecticides, such as fipronil, boric acid, or hydramethylon.

You should realize that it can take weeks for the baits to kill all of the colony.

Sanitation

Keeping your kitchen and garbage cans clean and free of food is important for two reasons. First, you are less likely to attract the ants. Second, they will be less likely to be distracted by the food and more likely to select the bait.

While you are probably focused on your sink and counters, don’t forget to pick up any pet foods at night.

Also throw away any infested food, since pharaoh ants can spread diseases like Salmonella.

Consider Professional Help

Given the difficulty of eradicating pharaoh ant infestations, you may want to bring in a licensed pest professional to help you control these wretched creatures.

If you do, be sure to describe where the ant trails are located both inside your house and in your yard.

From Africa to Your Yard or Kitchen

Pharaoh ants have been recognized as being invasive throughout the world for the past century.

They are such problems that they were named after a biblical plague!

This tropical species from Africa are tremendous pests in warm climates like Florida and Texas, but they will also nest inside buildings throughout the US.

Not limited to apartment buildings, houses, factories, and office buildings, colonies will infest nursing homes and hospitals and can spread more than a dozen types of human diseases.