Found around the world, there are over 12,000 different ant species and ants live on nearly every continent. Generally, as most can attest to, these little insects will deliver a little pinch when people get too close to food, the nest, or the queen. As many colonies can have hundreds of thousands of members, their daily raids seem never-ending, ants are annoying problems when they choose to infest homes and business. There are quite a few ants, some more common than others, throughout Texas. Among the common ants found in our local area include pharaoh ants. Today, we at A-Tex Pest Management would like to discuss the fundamentals of pharaoh ants.
Pharoah Ants Bite Humans
The origins of pharaoh ants are unknown, which many scientists find intriguing. Being that the average is less than an 8th of an inch long, these ants are among the smaller species. Generally, they feature red and black markings on the abdomen, and they are nearly transparent but have a tinge of yellow or light brown primarily color. Though they have a tendency to be a bigger problem inside hospitals, pharaoh ants can be a potential nuisance anywhere. Pharaoh ants have actually been called the most dangerous insect in medical and health care facilities because they feed on sick people and then transfer disease-causing microorganisms, bacteria and viruses to other patients. This spreads sickness such as influenza, throat infections, strep, impetigo and other more serious conditions
What Do Pharaoh Ants Eat & Where Do They Live?
In order to survive the winter, these ants take advantage of artificial heating in buildings. Within the building, ants commonly nest in well-hidden, protected places. Pharaoh ants are generally found in the foodservice area. Pharaoh ants prefer warmer areas such as gardens and lawns when they are found outdoors. Pharaoh ants are omnivorous and eat everything in sight, favoring proteins, fats, insects both living and dead, and have partial to sweets. Meaning they have multiple queens; pharaoh ants are polygynous. The female can lay up to 400 eggs in their life, with their lifespan averaging between 4 and 12 months.
Worker ants go through the life stages until it reaches an adult where they will live about 10 weeks from adulthood. Workers forage along surfaces throughout all hours of the day and these ants are well-noted as tiny amber-colored ants. To conveniently find the favorable sweet foods, these ants are most likely to nest in or close to the kitchen. Pharaoh ants will often build their nest in refrigerator insulation, within the hollows of curtain rods, walls, cabinet voids, along the folds of clothes, in addition to between sheets and paper and in other undisturbed dark spaces. People frequently see pharaoh ants marching throughout the home foraging for food as they follow the pheromone trails along baseboards and windowsills along with on along plumbing and electrical wiring.
Pest Inspections, Control & More in Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville, Cedar Park & Austin Texas
Due to the diseases they can spread on otherwise sterile equipment and rooms, pharaoh ants are a particular problem for hospitals, as previously mentioned. Being very adaptable, these ants will thrive under the worst conditions with their complex buddy-colonies system. Pharaoh ants can be a challenge to get rid of without professional control due to their keen senses and survival abilities. Contact A-Tex Management and let us help you eliminate them when you suspect pharaoh ants, or any other ants and pests in your Texas home, business or medical facility.