Page 22 - Florida Pest Control Examinations

PHARAOH ANT

Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR

1.Antenna-12 segmented w/3 seg. club 6.Thorax- uneven, no spines PHARAOH ANT
2.Eyes- 2 compound 7.Petiole- 2 nodes
3.Head 8.Abdomen- stinger present 1 6 7
4.Legs- 6 9.Color- yellow to dark brown 8
5.Wings- on alates 10.Other- difficult to control

Life Cycle
Eggs incubate for a little over a week, and go through a larval stage of 3 4
about three weeks. This ant has a pre-pupal stage of three days, and the
pupal stage lasts 9-10 days before becoming an adult. The whole egg to
adult process can be as little as 38 days under optimum conditions.
Drawing by Andrew Schaible
PHARAOH ANT Actual size 1/16”

Pharaoh Ants are often mistaken for the Argentine and Thief ant—they are slightly smaller, less
than 1/16th inch, and are a yellowish to brownish color. They also have a stinger, even though it
is very small and not effective, which the Argentine Ant lacks. This ant will nest inside buildings,
trying to find a location near food. It will eat just about anything that people eat—especially
fatty, greasy foods, meat, and sweets. It is also a predator to many insects, and will spread
bacteria. The unusual name comes from its original habitat in Egypt. The Pharaoh Ant seeks
to establish nests in warm and inaccessible locations. A colony contains many queens and can
have hundreds of thousands of workers!

1.Antenna- 12 segmented 6.Thorax- dark brown GHOST ANT
2.Eyes- 2 compound 7.Petiole- single node
3.Head- colored dark brown 8.Abdomen- milky white color 1 6 7
4.Legs- 6, colored white 9.Color- dark brown/white 8
5.Wings- none 10.Other- small, hard to see

Life Cycle 4
Colonies can be quite large, and contain multiple reproducing females 3
and multiple queens. The queens will move out and develop new
subcolonies, so that Ghost Ants spread rapidly. They have become
very difficult to control. Drawing by Christopher Beck

GHOST ANT Actual size 1/16”
The Ghost Ant has become widespread throughout Florida, and is considered a major
household pest. It is a tropical species, one that is considered a “tramp ant”. In cooler
locations it will only nest in structures and greenhouses, but in Florida it can nest anywhere it
finds a favorable location—either indoors or outdoors. Their favorite food is honeydew, and
they tend aphids that produce it. They will also eat dead and live insects. Indoors they are
usually found in kitchens and bathrooms, going after sweets and moisture.

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