
Community identification
Pharaoh Ant
Monomorium pharaonis
- Order & Family
- Order: Hymenoptera; Family: Formicidae
- Size
- 1.5 to 2.0 mm (very small)
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments like buildings, hospitals, and kitchens; nests in wall voids, under floors, and behind baseboards.
Diet & Feeding
Opportunistic omnivore; eats sweets, proteins (meats/fats), and other insects.
Behavior Patterns
Multiple-queen colonies; avoids sprays through 'budding' (splitting colonies); highly invasive and persistent indoors.
Risks & Benefits
Risk: Major pest in hospitals as they can mechanically transmit pathogens such as Salmonella and Streptococcus; difficult to eradicate with standard pesticides.