Appearance:
Pharaoh ants have a pale yellow to orange or red body, and black shading on the top and rear portion of their abdomen. Often confused with other ant species such as the thief ant, pharaoh ants have twelve-segmented antennae with a three-segmented club.

Size:
Range from 1/16-inch to 1/12-inch in length.

Behavior:
Pharaoh ants tend to feed on sweets, proteins and insects. They forage in set trails along carpets, countertops, cabinets, floors, and baseboards, favoring warm, moist locations in which to nest. Their colonies can become very large with multiple queens; they are also very mobile, with the ability to form new, smaller ant colonies containing very few ants in a process called "budding”. They can breed continuously throughout the year.

Habitat:
Pharaoh ants can only survive outdoors in sub-tropical areas, where they are often found in leaf litter or rain gutter debris. Once inside, they can be found in wall and cabinets spaces, around insulation, behind baseboards and any other accessible crevices and spaces. They are often found in feeding trails on wiring or hot water pipes, which are used to travel through walls and between floors.

Unique Characteristics:
Pharaoh ants are known for their ability to “get into things”, often penetrating even the most sterile environments, including hospitals