Use of baits specifically designed and labeled for pharaoh ants, such as MaxForce FC Ant Bait (fipronil) and Dual Choice (abamectin) Ant Bait Stations, is recommended. For this reason, special baits have been designed to be especially attractive to pharaoh ants over different times of year. In addition, pharaoh ants are well known for periodically changing their food preferences. Pharaoh ants often feed on sweets, but seem to more consistently prefer foods high in fat and proteins, like dead insects.

Management of pharaoh ants is primarily through baits, although some success has been reported with slower-acting, non-repellent, residual insecticides like chlorfenapyr. Like many other ants, pharaoh ants have an affinity for electrical fields and can be disruptive to sensitive electronic components. Pharaoh ants also may mechanically transport pathogens and are particularly troublesome in hospitals and other health care facilities where they can enter sterile packaging, wound dressings and IV tubes, or where they may be attracted to IV fluids or body fluids of patients. This fact means it is easier for colonies to split or fragment and spread throughout a building, thus making elimination difficult. Multiple queens may be found in a single nest. Pharaoh ants do not produce swarms of flying adults, but colonies spread via budding (division).

They are principally nuisance pests and can be found nesting in any narrow crevice, including under clothing in drawers, between sheets of paper, in voids of window and door frames, in electrical outlets and under insulation in walls, ceilings and attics. Although they possess stingers, pharaoh ants do not sting humans. They will thrive indoors in cooler climates, however, and are considered important pests of human structures worldwide. Pharaoh ants are tropical in origin, and do not tolerate cold weather in temperate and northern climates. Little fire ant is also similar, but it is found only in restricted areas of Hawaii and Florida and has spines on its thorax. Misidentification of thief ants as pharaoh ants may result in unnecessary and costly treatments. Being able to distinguish between thief ants and pharaoh ants can be important, as the thief ant is an occasional invader of structures but does not generally live indoors or require control. Thief ants ( Solenopsis molesta complex) are very similar in appearance to the pharaoh ant however they have a 10-segmented antenna with a 2-segmented club. It is most easily distinguished from the equally tiny dark rover ant by its lighter yellow to orange color however close examination will also reveal that it has 2-segmented pedicel, and a 12-segmented antenna with a 3-segmented club. The pharaoh ant, Monomorium pharaonis, is one of the smallest (2 mm-long) indoor ant pests.