About Pharaoh Ants
This little ant has well-developed black eyes and is yellow-brown in colour. The females are 1.5-2mm long, while the males are 3mm long and have deeper black coloration with wings. The Queen is 3.6-5mm long, dark crimson in colour, and has wings. They are widely spread throughout Australia, but they require warm, humid conditions to thrive, therefore they are restricted to buildings in temperate areas and are frequently seen infesting hospitals.
Habits
Thousands of workers can be found in an ant colony. These ants may spread like wildfire, dividing into multiple smaller groups, because each colony has more than one queen. They frequently migrate over power lines and telephone lines. Sweets, proteins, and oils are favourites of these ants, who will also devour dead bugs. Pharaoh ants prefer warm, humid environments and are common in supermarkets, hospitals, and hotels. These ants come inside homes in search of food and because they cannot survive outside all year.
Habitats
Insects can be found in building fabric (wall voids, windows, etc.) as well as plants and sterile supplies. They have the ability to spread through service ducts. The ants search for water around sinks and condensation regions. Ants consume meat, cheese, fat, sugar, honey, and jam, among other things. They will be fed blood and IV diet fluids while in the hospital. Food can also be found in the form of dead insects, mice, and droppings. Infestations have been detected in a number of places, including apartment buildings, hotels, hospitals, zoos, and ships. Infestations can also be seen outside in warmer climates.
Threats
The ants’ relentless biting with their sharp mandibles often damages materials. They can even get through sterile dressings and tools that are kept in plastic bags. Pathogenic organisms can be spread when pharaoh ants eat in unsanitary sites such as drains, dumpsters, or even wound dressings, posing a health danger.
Prevention
The destruction of nests is required for the effective management of Pharaoh’s ants. Because nests are typically in inaccessible locations, this is tough to do. The most effective control techniques include a complete pesticide treatment that exposes all of the insects that make up the infestation to the toxicant in a short period of time. Baiting is the most effective method, although in some cases, conventional pesticide treatments may be required to achieve quick ant control or to build perimeter treatments to prevent ant migration. Conventional remedies, on the other hand, are ineffective in controlling Pharaoh’s ant nests.
