S & W Pest Management Inc : Insect Guide

Pest Guide » Ants » Pharoh Ants:

Pharoh Ants
Monomorium pharaonis
Color: Yellow
Legs: Six
Shape: Segmented; oval
Size: 1/8"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: No

This ant is a serious nuisance in hospitals, rest homes, apartment dwellings, hotels, grocery stores, food establishments, etc. They feed on jellies, honey, shortening, peanut butter, corn syrup, fruit juices, soft drinks, greases, dead insects, and even shoe polish. They have been found in surgical wounds, I.V. glucose solutions, and sealed packs of sterile dressing in hospitals. These ants are capable of mechanically transmitting diseases, Staphylecoccus and Psuedomonas infections in hospitals.

This pest ant can be very difficult to control and eliminate. When foraging worker ants are killed by residual treatments, the colony will fracture or split into two or more colonies to ensure part of the colony survives. If such treatments are continued, the infestation is spread throughout the building.

Pharaoh ants typically establish themselves in areas near moisture, such as the kitchen or bathroom. They travel from room to room within the walls via plumbing pipes and electrical wires.

Prevention Outdoors:

Remove piles of lumber or other yard debris that could serve as a nesting site for ants.
Keep mulch less than 2" thick and at least 12" away from foundations.
Eliminate sources of moisture such as leaky faucets, plumbing, and free-standing water. Also, make sure that your sprinkler system does not spray directly onto the foundation of your home or business.
Consider re-landscape. Avoid using plants that are prone to aphids.Do not use items such as stones and landscape timbers next to the foundation, ants underneath are more likely to infest a home.
Keep branches trimmed to prevent them from touching your building.

Prevention Indoors:

If ants are trailing to food, remove the food source and wipe ant trails with a mild detergent to erase the trail pheromone. The trail pheromone is a specialized chemical that foraging ants emit to guide other foraging ants to food or to a new nesting place.

If you would like to make an appointment with S & W Pest Management, please fill out the online appointment form or call 1-877-989-BUGS.