There are over 12,000 different ant species found in the world, and they live on nearly every continent. When people get too close to food, the nest, or the queen as most can attest to, these little insects will deliver a little pinch. When they choose to infest homes and business, their daily raids seem never ending, ants are annoying problems since many colonies can have hundreds of thousands of members. Across Nevada, there are several ant species, some more common than others, which include pharaoh ants. With this in mind, we at Preemptive Pest Control would like to briefly share some basics regarding pharaoh ants.

Pharaoh Ant Identification

Having unknown origins, pharaoh ants are filled with intrigue among modern scientists. Pharaoh ants are among the smaller species and they average less than an 8th of an inch long. These ants are primarily tinge of yellow or light brown color, and they feature red and black markings on the abdomen. Though favoring insects both living and dead, proteins, fats, and being partial to sweets, Pharaoh ants are omnivorous and eat everything in sight. Being that Pharaoh ants are polygynous, there are multiple queens in a colony. Within their life, females can lay up to 400 eggs and their lifespan ranges from 4 to 12 months. As they will live about 10 weeks from adulthood, worker ants go through the life stages until they reach adulthood.

Where Do Pharaoh Ants Nest in Houses, Apartments, Hospitals & Other Places?

Pharaoh ants are more than an inconvenience, and though they can be nuisance anywhere, they are a bigger problem inside hospitals. Pharaoh ants take advantage of artificial heating in buildings so that they can survive the winter. Being well protected, these ants commonly nest in well hidden places within the building. Generally found in the food service area, but when found outside, Pharaoh ants prefer lawns and gardens. These ants are well-noted as tiny amber-colored ants as the workers can be seen throughout the day as the forage along surfaces. Typically, the kitchen, or close to it, is where these ants are likely to nest so that they can conveniently find the favorable sweet foods. In addition to in between sheets and paper and in undisturbed dark spaces, within the hollows of curtain walls, rods, and cabinet voids, along the folds of clothes as well in refrigerator insulation are common places pharaoh ants will nest. Following the pheromone trails along windowsills and baseboards along with on along plumbing and electrical wiring, these pharaoh ants marching throughout the home foraging for food are frequently seen by people.

Do Pharaoh Ants Bite & Spread Disease?

Pharaoh ants do have the ability to bite, but this is not usually a concern except in cases of very large infestations. The larger problem of pharaoh ants is the diseases and pathogens such as salmonella and streptococcus they can spread. This is a particular problem in hospitals as pharaoh ants spread diseases on otherwise sterile equipment and rooms, and contaminate patient wounds. Pharaoh ants can also contaminate food.

Ant Pest Inspections, Control, Removal & More in Aliante, Centennial Hills, Cimarron Springs, Desert Shores, Iron Mountain Ranch, Lone Mountain, Mountain Shadows, Peccole Ranch, Skypointe, Summerlin, Summerlin South, The Lakes, West Sahara & Greater Northwest Las Vegas, NV

Pharaoh ants have complex buddy-colonies system and are very adaptable and will thrive under the worst conditions. Without professional control since their keen senses and survival abilities, pharaoh ants can be challenging to remove. In the event you suspect pharaoh ants in your Las Vegas home or business, call Preemptive Pest Control. We will conduct a thorough inspection and present a custom treatment plan.