Be careful

Pharaoh ant

Monomorium pharaonis

Also called pharaoh's ant, sugar ant

Pharaoh ants do not bite or sting people, but they can carry germs onto food and surfaces, which matters most in homes with newborns or someone with wounds or a weak immune system.

Photo: Dominik Maximilián Ramík, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist

SizeAbout 1.5–2 mm (1/16 inch) for workers; queens about 4 mm (1/8 inch)

Where in the houseKitchen, bathroom, pantry, windows and walls, bedroom, closets

WhenYear-round indoors, since colonies live inside heated buildings.

Check these features

Very tiny, pale yellow to light reddish-brown ant
Rear end (gaster) often darker, brownish to blackish
Two bumps (nodes) in the waist
Antenna ends in a club of three segments (needs a magnifier)
Trails of tiny pale ants along baseboards, cabinets, outlets and pipes, often in warm rooms

Bites and stings

Does not bite or sting people in any meaningful way. The concern is that they walk through trash and drains and then onto food, dishes and surfaces. Throw away food they have gotten into. If someone in the home has open wounds, burns, a weakened immune system, or is a newborn, keep ants away from them and their supplies and ask their doctor if you are worried.

What to do

Do not spray the ants or their trail with insecticide or cleaners that repel them; this can make the colony split into several new colonies and spread through the house.
Use bait stations labeled for pharaoh ants, placed along trails and near food and water, and follow the label; keep them filled and expect weeks to months for full control.
Throw out food the ants have reached and move remaining food into sealed containers.
Keep ants away from babies, wound dressings and medical supplies in the home.
In apartments or multi-unit buildings, tell the landlord or manager, since the whole building usually needs to be treated; a licensed pro is often the best choice.

Look-alikes

Thief antThief ants are just as tiny and pale but have a two-segment antennal club instead of three; you need a magnifier to see it.

Red imported fire ant and other spined antsFire ants and bigheaded ants have a pair of spines or teeth on the thorax and larger workers, while pharaoh ants have no spines and are all tiny.

Argentine antArgentine ants are a darker, even brown with a single waist node, while pharaoh ants are pale yellowish with two nodes.

Why it came inside

Pharaoh ants are a tropical species that, in most of the US, can only live inside heated buildings. They nest in warm, damp, hidden spots near food and water, such as wall voids, behind baseboards, near hot water pipes, in outlets, in appliances and even in stored linens or papers, and they often arrive in boxes or belongings.

Keep it out

Store food, pet food and sweets in sealed containers and clean up crumbs and spills promptly.
Fix leaks and reduce damp spots under sinks and around pipes.
Seal gaps around pipes, outlets and baseboards with caulk where you can.
Check boxes, plants and secondhand items for tiny ant trails before bringing them in.

What helps

Links go to Amazon search results so you can compare current options. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Always follow the product label.

Bait stations

Enclosed baits work slowly as insects carry the bait back to where they hide. Don't spray near the baits, and follow the label.

See options on Amazon

Airtight pantry containers

Glass or thick plastic containers with tight lids keep pantry pests out of flour, cereal, rice and pet food.

See options on Amazon

Caulk and sealant

Silicone or siliconized acrylic caulk closes cracks around windows, pipes and baseboards. Bigger gaps need foam backer rod or expanding foam first.

See options on Amazon

Hand lens

A 10x magnifier makes small features easier to check, like eye patterns, markings or the shield on a tick.

See options on Amazon

Sources

Checked October 18, 2026. Rating backed by 3 sources. How we rate danger.