Pharaoh's Ants

Cartwright, R. Y.; Clifford, Carleton M.

doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(73)92861-4

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Besides the usual floor feasts of bread crumbs, sugar granules, and fat droplets, ants, especially the pharaoh ant, Monomorium pharaonis, may annoy patients by nibbling on food around a patient's mouth; they also feed on exposed pus and dried blood, or they may be found on patient food trays. These ants (M. pharaonis) have been found in IV drips and inside packages of sterile dressings [63,64]. Water is essential and this may be obtained from any exposed source such as floor drains, urinals, patient water flasks, unemptied bedpans, wound dressings, ice machines, plumbing drips, and so forth.…”

Section: Nutrition and Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insects As Vectors Of Foodborne Pathogens

Zurek

Gorham

2008

Wiley Handbook of Science and Technology for Homeland Security

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Many of the numerous species of insects that are attracted to food and to food‐contact surfaces carry on or within their bodies a plethora of bacteria and other microbes, some of which are capable of causing disease in humans and domestic animals. Strict adherence to standard sanitation practices and constant vigilance at all levels of the food chain are the primary lines of defense against incidents of foodborne disease. Flies and cockroaches are notable for their habits of indiscriminately visiting both pathogen‐laden substrates and food destined for human or domestic animal consumption. Ants that enter buildings are both indefatigable foragers and reliable carriers and disseminators of any pathogens they happen to acquire. The moths and beetles that live in dry cereal foods are capable of transporting fungal spores within the food material. It is not possible to prevent all instances of contamination of food by pathogens carried by insects. However, that eventuality can be minimized by implementing a four‐pronged program, AIM=F: anticipate—document all possible scenarios by which insects might contaminate food; inform—train all persons associated with the food chain to recognize danger when they see it; mitigate—develop and practice protocols to quickly deal with any actual or potential incident of food contamination by insects; frustrate—utilizing the first three action measures will neutralize or minimize any deliberate attempt to effect a bioterror incident.

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Section: Nutrition and Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insects As Vectors Of Foodborne Pathogens

Zurek

Gorham

2008

Wiley Handbook of Science and Technology for Homeland Security

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“…Apart from being potential vectors, Pharaoh's ants can cause skin irritation and lesions (Eichler, 1990). They have also been found feeding directly on open wounds of burn-unit patients (Anon., 1986), under bandages covering wounds (Cartwright & Clifford, 1973), on bedridden elderly or post-operative patients (especially patients who leak body fluid) (Anon., 1974), on premature newborns in incubators (Edwards & Short, 1990) and in intravenous tubes that supply fluids to patients (Beatson, 1973;Edwards & Baker, 1974). As a result, they spread diseases among patients by contaminating their foods and sterile materials with pathogens.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of a Bait System for the Pharaoh’s Ant, <i>Monomorium Pharaonis</i> L. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Osae¹,

Cobblah²,

Djankpa³

et al. 2011

West African Journal of Applied Ecology

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The infestation of the Pharaoh's ant, Monomorium pharaonis L. is widespread and, sometimes, very serious in homes, hospitals, restaurants, factories, etc. People are helpless because effective baited traps are not available locally, and little has been done locally to develop effective control strategies for these ants. The study aimed at developing an appropriate bait system from local materials for the control of the Pharaoh's ant. Nine baits and three insecticides were evaluated in the laboratory and field situations. Groundnut cake, dry fish and granulated sugar were the most attractive baits. Rimon (a Benzoylphenyl urea), an insect growth regulator, was the most promising insecticide for incorporation into the bait system. It is, therefore, recommended that a bait system, containing groundnut cake, sugar and dry fish, mixed with 1% Rimon, be evaluated for Pharaoh's ant control.

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“…Pharaoh's ants represent an infection hazard in hospitals. They have been found in sterile supplies2 and in sets for giving intravenous fluids. 3 A range of pathogenic bacteria, including Salmonella spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus, has been isolated from them 4.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%