Pharaoh ants are easily identifiable by their yellow and black coloring and marked preference for sweet and greasy foods, unlike other ants who seem happy to eat almost anything. These ants are most commonly found in warmer areas, where the climate is sufficiently humid. Pharaoh ant colonies, unlike fire ant mounds, are hard to detect and treat; hence different methods are required to treat infestations of pharaoh ants.

The best method to deal with a pharaoh ant infestation is to use a slow-acting bait. Slow-acting bait allows worker ants to transport the bait back to feed the queen and other ants in the colony, effectively spreading the insecticide to the entire colony. Fast-acting bait, on the other hand, only manages to kill the worker ants that come into contact with it. Be sure to layout bait that caters to all the feeding needs of the colony.

Pharaoh ants require protein, carbohydrates, and sugars, thus it is important to ensure that you have laid out baits that correspond to all these nutritional needs. When baits have been laid out, ensure that other sources of food are removed so that the ants will have no choice but to consume the bait.

Also, remember to use a non-repellant insecticide that is safe for both pets and children. EcoRaider® has a line of insecticides that is free of harmful chemicals, yet is no less effective than other products in the market. Repellants tend to cause colonies to split up and scatter, rendering any efforts to destroy the queen invalid.