Pharaoh's Ant

Monomorium pharaonis

Appearance

•  Workers 1.5 - 2mm long, yellow-brown with brown abdomen.
•  Males 3mm long, black and winged.
•  Queens 3.5 - 6mm long, dark red in colour with wings.
•  Black eyes. 2 small segments at the pedicel.

Lifecycle

•  Multi - queen colonies
•  Swarming can take place at any time of the year
•  Winged adults seldom fly, so they are rarely seen.

Habits

•  Well - defined trails are laid which are often associated with heating systems. Feeds indoors on high protein foods - meat, fats, blood, dead insects, etc.
•  Swarming characteristics - new colonies are often formed through nests that have been disturbed e.g., as a result of insecticide spray treatments. Each queen produces up to 3500 eggs in its lifetime.
•  Nest locations - deep seated in cavities in heated buildings. Often found in hospitals. Associated with humid conditions. Colonies can range from a few dozen to 300,000 individuals.