A to Z of Pests
Pharaoh's Ant
Monomorium pharaonis
Appearance
- Workers 1.5–2mm long, yellow–brown with brown abdomen.
- Males 3mm long, black and winged.
- Queens 3.5–6mm long, dark red in colour with wings.
- Black eyes. 2 small segments at the pedicel.
Lifecycle
- Multi–queen colonies.
- Swarming can take place at any time of the year.
- Winged adults seldom fly so rarely seen. Wings are soon lost after mating.
Habits
- Well–defined trails are laid which are often associated with heating systems. Feeds indoors on high protein foods — meat, fats, blood, dead insects, etc.
- Swarming characteristics — new colonies are often formed through nests that have been disturbed e.g., as a result of insecticide spray treatments. Each queen produces up to 3500 eggs in its lifetime.
- Nest locations — deep seated in cavities in heated buildings. Often found in hospitals. Associated with humid conditions. Colonies can range from a few dozen to 300,000 individuals.
Seasonal Pest
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