Monomorium pharaonis (Linneaus), known as the pharaoh ant or sugar ant, is a common insect pest in hospitals and is attracted to many items used in the treatment of patients. These ants are especially a problem in burn units, where they have been found eating on wounds, and in surgical units, where they have been found in sterilized equipment, dextrose packages and intravenous tubing. The ants were provided with five liquid food items: 5% dextrose, Ensure (a food supplement), 0.9% sodium chloride, human whole blood, and human blood plasma. The consumption of each item was measured. Monomorium pharaonis ate all food items.
Species 1: Hymenoptera Myrmicinae Monomorium pharaonis (pharaoh ant, sugar ant)
Keywords: medical entomology, hospital
Back to Student Competition Ten-Minute Papers, Subsection Fb. Urban Entomology
Back to Student Competition 10-minute Paper
Back to The 2002 ESA Annual Meeting and Exhibition