Bug Identifier
Pharaoh Ant
Community identification

Pharaoh Ant

Monomorium pharaonis

Order & Family
Order: Hymenoptera; Family: Formicidae
Size
1.5 to 2.0 millimeters in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Indoor environments like kitchens, bathrooms, and hospitals; they nest in wall voids and behind baseboards.

Diet & Feeding

Omnivorous; they consume sugars, proteins, and fats, including syrups and greases.

Behavior Patterns

Polygynous (multiple queens); they use 'budding' to create new colonies and are active year-round in temperature-controlled spaces.

Risks & Benefits

Considered a significant nuisance pest; in hospitals, they can spread pathogens like Salmonellosis and Streptococcus as they crawl over sterile equipment.