(Monomorium pharaonis)
Biology:
Pharaoh ants, like the lawn ants, belong to the nodule ants (Myrmicinae), which have two so-called stalk limbs between the middle part of the body and the abdomen. The workers are only 1.5-2.5 mm long and amber-yellow with a dark abdomen tip. Due to this small size of the workers, a pharaoh ant infestation is usually only recognized when the animals appear in masses.
Originally from the tropics and subtropics, the species is very thermophilic (average temperature of more than 26°C) and is therefore only found in our latitudes in well-heated buildings, such as hospitals, bakeries, canteen kitchens, indoor swimming pools and others.
Pharaoh ant colonies can become very large and usually have several queens. The hidden location of the nests and the creation of secondary nests in the masonry make control extremely difficult.
Damage:
Pharaoh ants primarily eat protein-containing foods such as meat, eggs, cheese or blood, but also sweet foods. In addition to being a nuisance, they are particularly important in hospitals and nursing homes as carriers of pathogens such as salmonella, streptococci and staphylococci, as their small size allows them to penetrate medical equipment, sterile packs and even wound dressings.
Due to their small size, the workers can also penetrate electrical devices such as computers etc. in search of warm places, which can lead to cable fires and cause significant economic damage.
