The Plague of Pharaoh Ants
- Mike Balas
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Named for the mistaken belief that they were one of the biblical plagues of Egypt, these ants are a difficult and sometimes dangerous pest. Plague or not, you'll want to keep them out of your house.
Not all ants are created equal. Some bite or sting, some carry diseases, and some are just unpleasant to come across swarming around food. Pharaoh ants are on the more dangerous side of the scale, as well as being a stubborn and pervasive pest.
What Do Pharaoh Ants Look Like?
Pharaoh Ants are very small. They only grow to be about 1/16 to 1/8 inch long. They are light yellow to reddish brown and almost translucent in color on the front sections, with the very back abdomen being a darker brown to blackish color. Pharaoh Ants have antennae that end in a distinctive club shape.
Pharaoh Ants like to live in warm, protected spaces. While they can survive outdoors, they prefer inside spaces that maintain a consistent temperature and humidity. They particularly like kitchens and bathrooms, which provide access to moisture and food, and hidden places like behind baseboards and in the walls.
Why Are Pharaoh Ants Bad?
Pharaoh Ants are able to split their colonies when they feel threatened, which means that they are very difficult to get rid of. Attempts to eliminate one colony may result in several other colonies breaking off and settling in other parts of the building. Pharaoh Ants multiply quickly, with queens breaking off to start their own colonies when laying their first generation of eggs. With all that, populations can get out of control rapidly.
While Pharaoh Ants don't bite or sting, they can spread diseases by contaminating food and surfaces. Due to their small size, they are able to gain access to hard-to-reach areas. This means they can easily spoil food (even in some packaging). After having been in drains, trash cans, toilets, and other unsanitary places, these ants can leave those pathogens on surfaces and inside food. Pharaoh Ants can transmit diseases, like salmonella, streptococcus, staphylococcus, and botulism.
How Do I Keep Pharaoh Ants Out Of My Home?
Pharaoh Ants are notoriously hard to get rid of. Many pest control methods are ineffective when trying to eradicate an infestation of Pharaoh Ants. Due to their ability to split their colony when threatened, it is also difficult to make sure all ants are being targeted. Professional pest control services are required to deal with Pharaoh Ant infestations.
To help with the pest control, make sure that you are sealing up all food, cleaning up all spills, and regularly emptying garbage bins. Make sure that entry points into your home are sealed up tightly. If you see any Pharaoh Ants, the problem needs to be addressed immediately. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to get populations under control.
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For even more information about local Virginia pests, check out our pest library and other blog posts
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