Pharaoh Ant

Natural Habitat

Widely distributed indoors in warm, humid areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, and boiler rooms; frequently found behind baseboards or wall voids.

Diet & Feeding

Opportunistic omnivore; attracted to sweets, fats, proteins, and other dead insects. In hospitals, they are known to seek moisture from IV tubes and wounds.

Behavior Patterns

Notable for building multiple satellite nests (budding) rather than one single colony. They are highly persistent and can travel long distances along wires and plumbing to forage.

Risks & Benefits

Major structural pest; significant health risk in medical facilities as they can mechanically transmit pathogens like Salmonella, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus. They have no significant ecological benefit in indoor environments.

Identified on: 4/4/2026