Color: Pale yellow to red bodies. Abdomens are almost black. The queen is slightly darker in color.
Characteristics: Often pose a serious threat to hospitals where they infest IV units, medical preparation areas, and even open wounds.
Size: 1/16 inch in length, although the queens are about twice that size.
Potentially Dangerous: Yes
Pharaoh ants live in large colonies and survive very well indoors, thriving in the artificial heat found in homes, hospitals, restaurants, and food processing plants. Adult pharaoh ants are amber or yellow in color and have a dark brown or black abdomen. They grow to be 1/6th of an inch in length.
Pharaoh ants prefer to nest indoors and can be found nesting in the warm humid areas of your home that are near food sources. Pharaoh ants feed on a wide variety of foods including other insects, sweets, oils, and proteins. They will nest behind walls, baseboards, in furniture, underneath floors, and behind appliances.
Pharaoh ants are considered to be more than just a nuisance because they can carry and transmit serious diseases to people, such as salmonella and Streptococcus pyogenes. Pharaoh ant infestations are especially dangerous in hospitals because they have the ability to contaminate patients’ wounds.
In your home they will contaminate food sources and be very difficult to eliminate because of their large colony size and their ability to “bud”. Budding occurs when the colony is disturbed or when they smell a toxic substance. When budding, a small group of workers and a single queen will migrate from their colony to start a new colony. So instead of having to deal with one big colony you have to deal with several colonies.
Ant problems are frustrating and time consuming no matter what type of ant is at work. Unfortunately Pharaoh ants can be even more difficult to get rid of because of the sheer size of their colonies and their ability to bud. The best way to safely and quickly get rid of a pharaoh ant infestation is to contact a pest control professional. At Terminix Wil-Kil Pest Control we offer effective pest solutions that will resolve your infestation. If pharaoh ants have invaded your property contact Terminix Wil-Kil today.
Do-it-yourself ant treatments and products are not usually effective, and don’t work to treat the core of the problem, which is discovering how they are getting into your home. Also, pesticides that are used in DIY pest control can be more harmful to people and pets than they are to the actual pharaoh ant.
At Terminix Wil-Kil Pest Control, we strive to service you as quickly and as cost efficiently as possible. Our customers are our top priority. Your Terminix Wil-Kil technician is 100% committed to helping you as soon as possible.
The best way to prevent problems with pharaoh ants is to remove attractants that may be around your home and make changes to prevent them from entering into your actual structure. Pharaoh ant prevention tips include:
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Terminix Wil-Kil Pest Control is a local Pest Control and Extermination company helping homeowners and businesses with pest issues across WI.
