Pharaoh Ant

Natural Habitat

Typically found indoors in buildings, favoring warm, humid areas near food and water sources such as kitchens and bathrooms.

Diet & Feeding

Omnivorous; feeds on a wide variety of foods including sweets, fats, proteins, and other insects.

Behavior Patterns

Highly invasive and known for 'budding,' where a colony splits into sub-colonies; workers follow distinct pheromone trails to food sources.

Risks & Benefits

Major pest in homes and hospitals where they can spread pathogens; they offer no significant benefit in human environments and are difficult to eradicate.

Identified on: 5/28/2026