Which statement best describes Pharaoh ant colonies?

• A. Easy to locate
• B. Difficult to locate
• C. Moderately easy to locate
• D. Never found indoors

Answer: (B)

Pharaoh ants nest in many tiny, hidden locations inside buildings, which makes locating the actual colonies extremely challenging. They are only about 2 millimeters long and pale in color, so they’re easy to miss and can hide behind baseboards, inside wall voids, under floors, in electrical outlets, or within equipment. The colonies are spread out into multiple satellite nests that are connected by long foraging trails, and a structure can host several queens. Because there isn’t a single, obvious nest to find and the nests can relocate as resources change, you often only see scattered workers and trails rather than a clear nest. This reality is why Pharaoh ant colonies are described as difficult to locate.