Common pests

This is an ant species that was first found in Britain early in the 19th Century, probably originating in North Africa. It has been found throughout Britain in buildings that are warm enough (above 18ºC). It is only found indoors and in particular hospitals, prisons and large urban housing blocks.

Facts about Pharaoh's ants

Pharaoh's ants live in large colonies with nests found with up to 50,000 worker ants and 100,000 young stages. Each colony will have several queens which lay eggs. These hatch into larvae or grubs in 1-2 weeks, are fed by sterile female workers and reach pupal and then adult stage after about eight weeks. Pharaoh's ants are usually associated with central heating systems, ovens or heat exchangers as they need a minimum temperature of 18ºC to breed with an optimum of around 30ºC. Pupae and young larvae are sometimes moved away from colonies to set up new ones and so pharaoh's ants spread through buildings.

How do they affect me?

Pharaoh's ants may carry disease organisms and they will contaminate food and sterile materials, which is especially important in hospital environments. Their ability to travel through ducting and buildings means that infestations can become very widespread. Controlling pharaoh's ants is very difficult and is a specialised area of pest control, requiring the use of poison baits over a considerable period of time or, alternatively, the use of juvenile hormone baits which prevent adults being produced. Again this is a long term treatment.

How do you control them?

Controlling pharaoh's ants is very difficult and is a specialised area of pest control, requiring the use of poison baits over a considerable period of time or, alternatively, the use of juvenile hormone baits which prevent adults being produced. Again this is a long term treatment.