Bug Identifier
Pharaoh Ant
Community identification

Pharaoh Ant

Monomorium pharaonis

Order & Family
Order: Hymenoptera; Family: Formicidae
Size
1.5 to 2.0 mm (very small)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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.