Pharaoh Ant (Incomplete/Dried Specimen)

Natural Habitat

Widely distributed worldwide; commonly found indoors in kitchens, bathrooms, and wall voids, especially in heated buildings.

Diet & Feeding

Omnivorous; they eat sweets, proteins, and fats. They are noted for finding small food particles in crevices.

Behavior Patterns

Highly invasive and social. Colonies are 'polygynous' (multiple queens) and spread through 'budding' rather than swarming. They are active year-round in indoor environments.

Risks & Benefits

Considered a significant nuisance and pest. In hospitals, they can spread pathogens like Salmonella and Streptococcus. They provide little to no ecosystem benefit in human-occupied structures.

Identified on: 1/5/2026