Monomorium pharaonis
Appearance:
The workers are 1.5-2 mm in size and light brown in color with a brown abdomen. The males are black, reach a size of 3 mm and have wings. Queens can grow up to 6 mm in size, are dark red in color and also have wings. The black eyes and a stalk between the thoracic section and abdomen with 2 limbs are striking.
Reproduction:
The colonies have several queens and swarm at all times of the year.
The wings of the adult pharaoh ant are lost shortly after reproduction, which means that the animals are rarely observed in flight.
Way of life:
They stand out due to their precise migration routes, which often run along heating pipes. Protein-rich food such as meat, blood and dead insects are preferred.
Swarming behavior:
New colonies often emerge after old nests have been destroyed. A queen lays up to 3,500 eggs in the course of her life.
Nesting cake:
Strong and distinct colonies form in heated buildings, often in hospitals or kitchens. The strength of the colonies varies between a few dozen and 300,000 animals.
