Today's quiz takes a closer look at a rare but difficult variety of ant: the Pharaoh ant. Although most ants infesting San Diego neighborhoods are Argentine ants, we recently identified a colony of Pharaoh ants living in an apartment complex. Here are a few questions to test your knowledge of these tiny invaders.
1. Pharaoh ants are polygynous. What does this mean in the ant world?
a. Worker ants carry both reproductive parts.
b. Colonies have many queens.
c. Queens lay many eggs and then die.
d. Only queens have wings.
2. Pharaoh ants can be identified by
a. their dark, black color.
b. their distinctive odor when squashed.
c. a distinct club at the end of their antennae.
d. a turban-like appendage from which they get their name.
3. Pharaoh ants are often associated with infestations in
a. hospitals
b. apartments
c. hotels
d. grocery stores
4. The best way to treat Pharaoh ants is to
a. spray and bait
b. spray only
c. bait only
d. call a pest professional
5. What percentage of a Pharaoh ant's nest is typically out foraging at one time?
a. 5%
b. 20%
c. 50%
d. 75%
6. In severe infestations of larger buildings, how long might total elimination take?
a. 2-4 weeks
b. 2-4 months
c. up to a year
d. 2-4 years
7. Pharaoh ant colonies are large and very mobile. How many ants might one colony contain?
a. up to 1,000 ants
b. 2,000-5,000 ants
c. 50,000-80,000 ants
d. up to 300,000 ants
For answers to today's quiz, click here.
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