Pharaoh Ant
Monomorium Pharaonis
- Color: Yellow & light brown to slightly red
- Worker size: 2 millimetres
- Colony size: 300,000
- Queen: 4 millimetres, semi-claustral, polygyne
Introduction
Pharaoh ants are a common household pest that evolved in very interesting ways. They are 2 mm in size and are yellow, light brown, or sort of red. Their queens are 4 mm long. They live indoors under floorboards, in wall voids, or around pipes. They also like to nest in moist and warm areas. They have two types of workers: minors and majors. Minor workers mainly tend to the nest and brood. Major workers mainly defend the nest and forage for food.
Unique Traits
Budding Monarchies
Pharaoh Ants, unlike other ants, have multiple queens in their nests. So, when one queen dies, the reproduction of the colony could continue. Sometimes, one or more of the queens leave the colony with their brood and workers to establish a new colony. The behaviour of having multiple queens within a nest means that pharaoh Ants don’t participate in the yearly mating flights. Instead, mating occurs inside the nest.
Defences
Pharaoh Ants, when feeling threatened, can establish new nests. This makes them very hard to exterminate as pests. Pharaoh Ants are also not aggressive towards other ants of the same species because they can’t recognize nestmates easily.
Habitat & Diet
Pharaoh Ants are native to Africa. They specifically live in warm indoor buildings if they are in some areas other than Africa. They eat sweets, grease, and other insects. Because they eat so many different foods, they are a common pest indoors.
Sources:
- https://www.orkincanada.ca/pests/ants/pharaoh-ant/
- https://www.arrowexterminators.com/learning-center/pest-library/ants/pharaoh-ant
- https://antmaps.org/?mode=species&species=Monomorium.pharaonis
- https://www.bigtimepestcontrol.com/learning-center/rover-ants#:~:text=What%20do%20rover%20ants%20look,eyes%2C%20and%20distinct%20humped%20thoraxes.