What characteristic makes pharaoh ants particularly difficult to control?

Pharaoh ants are particularly challenging to control due to their ability to bud or split into sub-colonies when faced with improper treatment. This characteristic allows them to rapidly regenerate and expand their population, making eradication efforts more complex. When a colony is disturbed or inadequately treated, segments of the colony can propagate and form new colonies nearby, thus multiplying the infestation rather than diminishing it. This behavior complicates pest control strategies, as traditional methods may not only fail but can inadvertently increase the pest problem by promoting colony fragmentation.

The other characteristics, while notable, do not contribute to the same level of difficulty in managing pharaoh ant infestations. For instance, their nocturnal feeding habits or the presence of stingers may affect their behavior or the discomfort they cause, but they are not the primary reason for the challenges in controlling them. Similarly, while pharaoh ants have some resilience to temperature fluctuations, it is their propensity to bud that stands out as the most critical aspect in pest management contexts.