Pharaoh Ant

Pharoah Ants in El Paso TX

Pharaoh ants are the most persistent and difficult ants to control. They construct very large colonies with up to several million workers and thousands of queens across the El Paso and Anthony NM areas.  An invasive species, outnumber native ants, forcing them out of the area. If a Pharaoh ant colony is disrupted, they can divide off and form new colonies. Due to their ability to form new colonies quickly, Pharoah ants can spread throughout homes and buildings rapidly. Indoors, they will nest in any well-protected areas throughout a structure, but prefer lawns and gardens outdoors.

Pharaoh Ant Habitat

Foraging day and night, Pharaoh ants feed on sweets, proteins, and live or dead insects. Attracted to moisture, nests are found outside buildings where a constant water source is present, such as sprinkler systems and evaporative cooling units. In households, Pharaoh ant nests are often located in inaccessible locations near moisture, such as kitchens, bathrooms, under floors, and behind baseboards. In hospitals and food-processing facilities, they invade kitchens, laundries, boiler rooms, and around toilets, heating ducts, and pipes. Pharaoh ants travel from room to room using electrical wires and plumbing pipes, which allows them to gain access throughout an entire structure.

Pharaoh Ant Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Although Pharaoh ants don’t bite, they carry and transmit a number of dangerous pathogens to people and pets, including salmonella and streptococcus. A known pest of factories, office buildings, hospitals, and residences, they can access almost any space, contaminating food and food prep surfaces in kitchens and cafeterias as they forage. Additionally, most conventional household pest control treatments do not control Pharaoh ants. If a Pharaoh ant infestation is suspected, it is recommended to contact a licensed ant exterminator.