 |
Pharaoh Ant (Monomorium pharaonis)
This ant is a serious nuisance in hospitals, rest homes, apartment
dwellings, hotels, grocery stores, food establishments,
etc. They feed on jellies, honey, shortening, peanut butter,
corn syrup, fruit juices, soft drinks, greases, dead insects
and even shoe polish. They have been found in surgical
wounds, I.V. glucose solutions and sealed packs of sterile
dressing in hospitals. These ants are capable of mechanically
transmitting diseases, Staphylecoccus and Psuedomonas infections
in hospitals. Workers are very small about 1/16 inch long,
light yellow to reddish-brown colored with the hind portion
of the abdomen somewhat darker. The petiole has two nodes
and the thorax is spineless. The antennae has 12 segments
with the antennal club composed of three segments. |
