Do pharaoh ants have only one queen per colony?

Pharaoh ants are known for having multiple queens in a single colony. This trait is characteristic of what is called a polygynous colony structure. The presence of multiple queens allows for rapid population growth and increased resilience against environmental challenges and control methods. In fact, each queen can establish her own brood, contributing to the colony’s size and viability. This reproductive strategy can pose challenges for pest control since eliminating a single queen does not significantly affect the overall colony, which can keep reproducing. The multiple queen dynamic is a key factor in understanding the behavior and management of pharaoh ant populations.