Pharaoh Ants, A Brief Overview
Pharaoh ants were introduced to the United States from Africa. However, despite their name, these six legged pests do not come from Egypt. These ants are responsible for the spread of many pathogens and diseases and are found all throughout the country and are widespread in Florida. They are known for being the most difficult household ant to control.
What Do Pharaoh Ants Look Like?
Also known as "sugar ants", pharaoh ants are tiny in comparison to other ants. Their body size reaches only about 2 millimeters in length. Their bodies range in color from bright yellow to red along with a black colored abdomen. The queen pharaoh ant is typically darker in color compared to worker ants. They all live together in massively large colonies.
How Do Pharaoh Ants Live?
Unlike fire ants that live outdoors, pharaoh ants typically like warm humid places such as those found inside your home behind baseboards, under flooring and behind appliances where food sources can be plentiful. Pharaoh ants have been known to nest and become huge problems for hospitals, restaurants and other commercial locations where food is processed. These ants are not picky when it comes to food and will eat anything from oils to sweets to other insects.
The Dangers Of Pharaohs
These ants have become a danger to humans throughout Florida when found in any home or business. Pharaoh ants have been known to carry and transmit salmonella and Streptococcus to humans. An ant infestation, especially in hospitals, is especially dangerous as these ants have been known to eat through patient IV lines and even infest patient wounds. Ant colonies are huge consisting of thousands of ants, which includes hundreds of female queen ants. As a result, these sugar ant colonies are extremely difficult to control.
Pharaohs are adept at sensing danger as well. When they do, they have the ability to "bud" whereby one queen along with a group of worker ants will splinter off and form a new colony elsewhere. The budding process makes controlling these ants extremely difficult, because you aren't usually dealing with only one colony. You are dealing with several of them.
So, How Do I Get Rid Of Them?
Unfortunately, DIY pest control solutions are limited in their effectiveness against these ants. If you live in Bradenton, St. Petersburg or anywhere in the Tampa Bay area, it is best to contact us at Super D Pest Control for a free consultation. A professional exterminator is really the best course of action against an infestation. Our team of pest control experts is trained to help you get rid of dangerous pharaoh ants as well as provide other pest control services for your home or commercial business. Call us today at (727) 433-5310 or contact us on our website below.
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