# Pharaoh Ant (*Monomorium pharaonis*)

Pharaoh ants are tiny yellow ants that are often found in homes. They like warm places and can be tricky to spot.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Homes and buildings

![Pharaoh Ant](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426534/objects/5458.jpg)

## Appearance

The Pharaoh Ant is a tiny, pale yellow to reddish-brown insect, measuring only about 1.5-2 millimeters long. It has a distinctly segmented body with a slightly darker abdomen tip, appearing much lighter and smaller than most common household ants.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Hymenoptera
- **Family:** Formicidae
- **Genus:** Monomorium

## Interesting facts

- Wow, Pharaoh Ants often build their secret nests inside walls, books, or even electronics!
- Wow, a single Pharaoh Ant colony can have hundreds of egg-laying queens!
- Wow, these tiny ants are experts at finding even the smallest sugary snacks!
- Wow, they can start a new colony with just a few workers and one queen!

## Special abilities

- **Colony Splitters:** Pharaoh Ant can create brand new colonies by 'budding', where a group of workers and a queen leave to start fresh.
- **Invisible Trailblazers:** Pharaoh Ant has special glands that lay invisible chemical trails, helping their nest mates find the best food sources.
- **Super Squeezers:** Pharaoh Ant can squeeze through incredibly tiny cracks because of their minute size, allowing them to explore everywhere.
- **Tiny Lifters:** Pharaoh Ant can lift and carry objects many times its own weight because of its strong mandibles and robust body.

## Measurements & details

- **Size:** 1.5-2 mm
- **Lifespan:** 60-270 days
- **Leg Count:** 6
- **Colony Size:** 300000

## Diet & Feeding

These tiny ants are omnivores, loving both sweet sugary treats and fatty or protein-rich foods.

- **Primary Foods:** sugars, fats, proteins, dead insects
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Depends on:** Humans (*Homo sapiens*) — for shelter, warmth, and food scraps in urban areas.
- **Eaten by:** European garden spider (*Araneus diadematus*) — Spiders sometimes prey on foraging Pharaoh ants they encounter.

## Traits

- [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
- [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
- [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.
- [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
- [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)
- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects-and-bugs)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Do not touch or pick up. Some insects sting or bite. Ask an adult for help.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Pharaoh Ant?

Compare the antennae, waist segments, body proportions and size. Workers, queens and males of the same species can look surprisingly different. Ant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How big is Pharaoh Ant?

1.5-2 mm

### How long does Pharaoh Ant live?

60-270 days

### What does Pharaoh Ant eat?

These tiny ants are omnivores, loving both sweet sugary treats and fatty or protein-rich foods.

### Where is Pharaoh Ant usually found?

Homes and buildings

### How does Pharaoh Ant hunt?

Foraging

### How many legs does Pharaoh Ant have?

6

### How large are Pharaoh Ant colonies?

300000

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Pharaoh Ant: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pharaoh-ant)