Pharaoh Ant (or small house ant)

Indoor spaces, wall voids, heated buildings, kitchens, and crevices near moisture or food sources.

Omnivorous; feeds on proteins, fats, sugary sweets, dead insects, and crumbs.

Forms large polygynous colonies with multiple queens that nest in hidden crevices and communicate using pheromone trails.

Risks: Can contaminate food supplies and act as a mechanical vector for pathogens in hospital or home environments. Benefits: Helps clean up organic waste in natural settings.