Scientific name: Monomorium pharaonis
Pharaoh ants are light yellow in color with red to black markings on its abdomen. Pharaoh ants are tiny. At only 1/16 of an inch, you might miss a single ant. Unfortunately, pharaoh ants travel in large groups, making them hard to miss.
Pharaoh ants got their name because they were once thought to be one of the plagues of Egypt. The idea that they are a plague fits, because they are one of the most difficult indoor ant species to treat. When threatened an existing ant colony will separate and bud out to form several new colonies in new locations. Pharaoh ants have been known to build their nests in some pretty strange places, like inside of computers, light switches, outlets and within appliances. They seem to have a strange attraction to electricity. In winter months, they will often build their nests around anything warm. If the colony is located outside, their nests will be located in your lawn or garden. Pharaoh ants will eat anything you would eat, but they really enjoy sugar. In fact, another name for them is “sugar ants”.
Signs of an Infestation
The best sign of an infestation is finding the yellow pharaoh ants. When a scout finds food, it will leave a scent trail back to the colony. Once the trail is completed a host of tiny workers and will form a foraging line. If you have an infestation, you will begin to see tiny amber ants foraging for food anywhere they can find it. Even though the colony only has one queen, the number of individual pharaoh ants in a colony can reach close to 300,000.
Since pharaoh ants are so difficult to treat, Biologists recommend using a professional ant eradication company. That is where we come in. With Pointe Pest Control, you know that you are getting the best in pharaoh ant elimination. We take our job serious and want you to be able to have an ant free home. In order to succeed, we use the principles of Integrated Pest Management. Ants can’t hide from us. When you want the best in ant control, you need to call Pointe Pest Control.