Pest Pro Services
Saint Peters, Missouri 63376
(636) 240-8848 or (314) 808-2591
www.pestproservices.net
Harold@pestproservices.net
Commercial and Residential Pest Control
Service St. Louis
and the Surrounding Areas
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PHARAOH ANT
The pharaoh ant is small (pharaoh) yellow or light brown, almost transparent ant known for being a major indoor nuisance pest, especially in hospitals. Pharaoh ants are a typical species but they thrive in buildings anywhere, even in temperate regions provided central heating is present. Unlike most ants the Pharaoh ant is polygenes, meaning its colonies contain many queens (from 2 to over 200). An individual colony normally contains 1000 - 2500 workers but a high density of nests gives the impression of massive colonies. Pharaoh ants lack the normal cycle of reproduction observed in most ants; they are able to produce sexual reproductive individuals as required.
Elimination and control are made difficult because multiple colonies can also contract into smaller colonies and 'weather the storm' of a baiting programmed only to rebound when baiting is withdrawn. Pharaoh ants are a major hazard in hospitals, where their small size means they can access wounds, drip lines, and instrumentation, causing spread of infection and electrical interference. Pharaoh ants have become a serious nuisance pest in hospitals, rest homes, apartment dwellings, hotels, grocery stores, food establishments and other buildings. They feed on a wide variety of foods including jellies, honey, shortening, peanut butter, corn syrup, fruit juices, baked goods, soft drinks, greases, dead insects and even shoe polish. Also these ants gnaw holes in silk, rayon and rubber goods. In hospitals, foraging ants have been found in surgical wounds, I.V. glucose solutions, sealed packs of sterile dressing, soft drinks, water in flower displays and water pitchers. These ants are capable of mechanically transmitting diseases and contaminating sterile materials.
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