Pharaoh ants are a common pest in human dwellings. They are spread across the globe with significant infestations in the UK and in the Northern U.S.

Description: Pharaoh Ants are very small, about 1/16". They are light yellow to reddish-brown in color.

The Pharaoh Ant's small size enables it to get through cracks and holes while foraging for food. It's also known to gnaw it's way through various materials.

In private homes, Pharaoh Ants can be seen near food resources in the kitchen area.

They are a major pest in hospitals, where they have been known to get into sterile packages and contaminate medical supplies. They have even been found inside surgical wounds.

The nests of Pharaoh Ants can be found in any small crevice, sometimes as tiny as the space between sheets of paper. When a colony is stressed (by a change in temperature or application of pesticide), a queen will usually lead a group of ants out of the nest to form a new nest nearby.

Pest Control Tips for dealing with Pharoah Ants

Eradicating an infestation of Pharaoh Ants can be difficult. Often, there is more than one nest, and stressing the colony with pesticides can cause the ants to spread out into more spots.

The best way to handle an infestation is to carefully monitor the ant trails and place slow-acting ant bait across the trails. The foraging workers should be able to carry the bait and bring it inside the nest for other colony members to digest.