Pharaoh Ant

Widely distributed throughout the world. Prefers warm, humid indoor environments like kitchens, bathrooms, and hospitals.

Omnivorous and opportunistic. Consumes sweets, fats, proteins, and other insects. In hospitals, they are known to feed on blood or wound secretions.

Form large, multi-queen colonies. They do not swarm; instead, they expand through 'budding,' where a group leaves to start a new nest. They are highly persistent and can travel through electrical wiring and plumbing.

They are a major nuisance pest and a significant health risk in medical facilities as they can mechanically transmit pathogens like Salmonella and Streptococcus. They provide minimal ecological benefit in human-occupied structures.