Pharaoh ants are a common household pest that can be found in many parts of the world. They are known for their small size, light yellow colour, and unique reproductive habits. But are Pharaoh ants present in the UK, and if so, what risks do they pose? In this article, we’ll explore the characteristics of Pharaoh ants, their presence in the UK, and how to control them.
What are Pharaoh ants?
Pharaoh ants (Monomorium pharaonis) are a species of small, yellow ants that are native to Africa. They are a tropical species that thrives in warm, humid environments, which is why here in the UK, they only live indoors. Pharaoh ants are known for their complex social structure, which includes multiple queens and colonies that can number in the thousands. Here’s what the look like:
Are Pharaoh ants found in the UK?
Yes, Pharaoh ants do live in the UK, but they are not a native species. They were introduced to the country back in the 1930s, and their presence remained very limited until the 1980s. Since then, they have become more widespread throughout the UK, particularly in urban areas where they can spread from building to building without needing to venture outdoors.
Where do Pharaoh ants live?
In the UK, Pharaoh ants are only found in heated buildings such as hospitals, hotels, apartment buildings and bakeries. This tropical ant has a minimum breeding temperature of 18°c with the optimum temperature being about 30°C.
They build their colonies in locations where they have access to sweet or protein-rich foods as well as water. Colonies will often be located in very hard to reach places such as inside walls, which makes Pharaoh ants difficult to get rid of.
What are the risks of Pharaoh ants?
Pharaoh ants do not bite or sting humans. The primary risks associated with Pharaoh ants is that they carry dangerous pathogens such as staphylococcus, salmonella, and clostridium. Pharaoh ants will infest anywhere that has accessible food, so it’s very important for health and safety reasons that these ants are controlled, otherwise they can cross-contaminate the food that they come into contact with, putting people at risk of sickness. Pharaoh ants are a particular concern for hospitals because there are many people who are already in a vulnerable health condition.
If you own a business that’s involved in food production or preparation, Pharaoh ants can present a risk to your customers wellbeing, and if the ants are seen by an environmental health officer, it can affect your business’ food hygiene rating.
How to treat Pharaoh ants
There is no reliable DIY treatment for Pharaoh ants. To treat Pharaoh ants it’s highly advised you seek professional pest control help.
If Pharaoh ants detect that they are under attack, the problem will get worse.
The reason for this is because Pharaoh ants are a ‘budding ant’ species. This means that they live in large, localised colonies with multiple queen ants. If you attack them and don’t kill all the queens, the colony will splinter rapidly, with the queens now spreading around your building, making the problem worse than before.
Experienced commercial ant pest control, such as Merlin Environmental, can assess the infestation size and location and devise the best course action to take. This assessment process is 100% free. If you decide to go ahead, we can then implement the best treatment option to resolve the problem quickly and without risk of it spreading. As commercial pest control specialists, we can show up in unmarked vehicles, outside of your normal hours of business, so your customers are none the wiser. We have full-service coverage across the UK and Ireland. Contact us today to solve your Pharaoh ant problem.
