The Pharoah ant may be confused wtih the Thief ant. This ant is similar in physical characteristics, except has a more yellow tint to its body. Also, the foods eaten by this ant are similar to those of the Pharoah ant. College campuses are excellent breeding grounds for the Pharoah ant, especially the kitchen or dormitories. (Klots and Klots 1959)
Pharaoh ants communicate through tough and chemical markers called pheremones. They are have very good eye sight and can sense vibrations of potential predators or movement from their own larvae.
Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; chemical
Other Communication Modes: pheromones ; scent marks ; vibrations
Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical
There is no special status for this ant.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
5 to 6 days after being laid, Monomorium pharaonis eggs hatch into larvae. Larvae grow and develop over 22 to 24 days, passing through several instars “growth phases which end with molting). When the larvae are ready, they enter the pupal stage to undergo complete metamorphosis that is complete 9 to 12 days later. The pupal stage is the most vulnerable to environment and predators. The pupae are relatively inactive, and do not eat. Therefore, adult ants take a total of 38-45 days to fully mature, while another 4-5 days are required for sexual forms to reach maturity.
As the larvae grow, they must molt to a larger stage or instar. Molting is regulated by the molting hormone, ecdysone. This hormone is released by a gland located in the thorax, which is stimulated by the "brain hormone" produced by neurosecretory cells. Another hormone called juvenile hormone is most abundant in immature stages of the ant, and decreases with the passing of each stage toward adulthood.
Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis
Because of their attraction to soiled bandages, hospitals must limit patient exposure to this pest. The microscopic bacteria that these ants can carry is sometimes pathogenic, including Salmonella, Pseudomonas, Clostridium, and Staphylococcus. Also Pharaoh ants can annoy home owners by congregating on food and dishes left unattended.
Negative Impacts: injures humans (causes disease in humans ); household pest
Monomorium pharaonis removes and feeds upon crumbs and bits of food left unattended. Living with humans, these insects do not swarm as other ants, and they limit other household pests such as cockroaches by eating the leftover, exposed food supply.
Positive Impacts: controls pest population
Little is known on the effects these ants have on their native environment. In areas where they have been introduced they are considered to be a household pest.
The Pharaoh ant is omnivorous and their broad diet is reflective of their tolerance of diferent habitats. Pharaoh ants feed on sweets: jelly, sugar, honey, cakes, and breads. They also enjoy greasy or fatty foods such as pies, butter, liver, and bacon. Believe it or not, a preference of freshly used medical bandages attracts these ants to hospitals. These ants may find also their way into your shoe polish. In their natural environment, Pharaoh ants may be found enjoying a recently deceased insect such as a cockroach or a cricket. Pharoah ants use chemical trails laid down by other workers in order to find food.
Animal Foods: eggs; body fluids; carrion ; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods
Plant Foods: seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit; nectar; sap or other plant fluids
Other Foods: fungus; detritus
Foraging Behavior: stores or caches food
Primary Diet: omnivore
The Pharaoh ant is limited by cool climates, and relies upon humans for a suitable home in northern regions. This ant originates in the Old World tropics of Africa and has migrated to areas acrss the globe.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Introduced ); palearctic (Introduced ); oriental (Introduced ); ethiopian (Native ); neotropical (Introduced ); australian (Introduced )
The diversity of habitats the Pharaoh ant can live in is amazing! In Northern climates however, their nests often occur within households--the spaces in walls between the studs and insulation offer warm breeding grounds relatively hidden from our [human] eye (Howard, 1908). A major nuisance in the United States, the Pharoah ant is small, and difficult to gauge in population size. Their colonies are ruined by sealing cracks, and cutting off exposure to food. Kerosene has historically been used for this purpose (Klots and Klots 1959).
Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune ; savanna or grassland ; chaparral ; forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest ; mountains
Other Habitat Features: urban ; suburban ; agricultural
Definitely one of the smallest ants at a mere 1/12 or 1/16 of an inch, their bodies are reddish brown to slightly tan in nature (Drees and Jackman 1998). Each compound eye has 20 facets, and each mandible has four teeth. Paired longitudinal and metanotal grooves are definitely distinct. The prodpodeal dorsum has no "standing hairs" (Ogata, et al 1998).
Pharoah ants (like all insects) have three main body sections: thorax, head, and abdomen, and three pairs of jointed legs that are attached to the thorax. Pharaoh ants use their antennae to sense vibrations, and for aiding vision in non-lighted areas. Small hairs that may be present on the abdomen can aid in sensing the weather, or by processing touch. Finally, like all arthropods, they contain a hard exoskeleton and additionally have a waxy cuticle to prevent drying out. Arthorpod skeletons are made of chitin, a polymer derivative of starch similar to our fingernails (Raven and Johnson 1999).
Range length: 1 to 2 mm.
Sexual Dimorphism: female larger
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Since these ants are so small, little is known about the predators of this species.
Pharaoh ants have copulatory organs for internal fertilzation. After the new queen has mated with at least one male (sometimes more) she will store the sperm in her spermatheca so that she can use it to fertilize all of her eggs throughout the rest of her life.
Like most ants, sexual castes (those capable of reproduction) copulate in a “nuptial flight”. This is when environmental conditions are favorable to encourage mating and males and virgin queens fly into the air at the same time in order to find mates. After a short while the males die, and the queens lose their wings and find a place to begin her colony.
Mating System: eusocial
After a queen mates, she will found a new colony. This means that she will lay eggs and care for the first brood herself. After the first generation mature, they will care for the queen and all future generations as the colony grows. In addition to the founding of a new colony by a newly mated queen, colonies may also “bud”. This is where part of an existing colony carries brood to another "new" nesting site along with a new queen --often a daughter of the parent colony’s queen.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; year-round breeding ; sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); sperm-storing ; delayed fertilization
After a queen mates, she will found a new colony. This means that she will lay eggs and care for the first brood herself. After the first generation mature, the new workers will care for the queen and all future generations as the colony grows.
