Western Exterminators - Pest Control Services California, Arizona, Nevada

	Common name:	Latin name:	Class:	Order:	Family:
	Pharaoh Ant	Monomorium Pharaonis (Linnaeus)	Insecta	Hymenoptera	Formicidae

	Size:
	Workers and males are about 1/16 inch long; Queens are about 1/8 inch.
	Color:
	Body is pale yellow to red; with abdomen often darker to blackish; Queens are slightly darker.
	Where Found:
	Probably native to Africa, but spread to Europe and from there to the U.S.
	Habitat:
	Nests are usually indoors where there is warmth and high humidity; may also be found on ground outdoors, and in debris that has collected on a flat roof.
	Food:
	They have a wide preference in food ranging from syrups to fruits, pies, meats, and dead insects.
	Biology:
	Colonies can have up to several hundred thousand Workers. Large colonies have several hundred females that lay eggs. Cannot survive the winter in much of the U.S.; however, they do overwinter in Florida and Hawaii. Indoors they can survive year round. There is no swarming. Mating takes place inside the nest. Development from egg to adult takes about 38 days, if temperature is warm. Workers live about 9 or 10 weeks, with only 10% going out to feed at one time. Queens live much longer, from 4 to 12 months. Males die about 3-5 weeks after mating. New nests can be formed with as few as 5 Workers, 10 pre-adults, and 1 Queen
	Damage:
	Believed to spread various diseases. They are a common problem in hotels, grocery stores, hospitals and apartments.
	Control:
	It is important to perform a thorough inspection of your property. Repellant pesticides can increase the problem with this pest; improper applications will cause this ant species to create additional colonies! These ants commonly infest hotels, grocery stores, hospitals and apartments. They can be brought into residences in luggage or boxes. It can be difficult to gain control of this pest if not properly treated! Improper treatment can cause greater problems as this ant species can spread by creating additional colonies. This method of spreading their colonies is called ‘budding’. There are specialized baits to control this ant species made with an attractant that seems to work well. The best baiting locations are next to foraging trails. Check food storage areas, pet dishes, and dishwasher or trash compactor for trailing ants. Control may take some time and continued monitoring will be necessary. Preparation may be necessary if using materials near food products. There should be no need to vacate treated areas. Apply barrier application outdoors. Repair poorly sealed windows and flashings. When using any pesticide, be sure it is registered for the target pest/location. Read the entire label prior to use. Follow all label directions, restrictions, and precautions.