21 Fun And Cool Facts About Ants

The ant is a common small insect. They are everywhere. Ants live on almost every continent. They are fast going six-legged insects. Ants are known to be curious and hard working. When a long line of small ants appears, it looks like a very disciplined force working together. Ants are social insects and lives in large colonies. All continents have their own ant species except Antarctica. Ants have been through a long evolutionary process. It is believed that ants evolved from the same ancestors as wasps and bees. Ants collect food from natural resources as well as human foods. They store food for the upcoming days.

Ants are from one of the largest order of insects, the Hymenoptera. Ants are mostly land-dwelling insects. The ant's morphology is different from many other insects. They are recognizable for their elbowed antennae. Some species of ants can grow wings. Ants have one of the most advanced head with many sensory organs. Ants have a second abdominal segment into a node-like petiole. Ants reproduce by eggs. Ants are univoltine. They produce a new generation every year. Ants are unimaginably strong. Most ant species can carry up to 50 times their own weight.

Ants are marvelous creatures. They can survive in various conditions. Ants have grown great communication capabilities. Ant colonies are referred to as superorganisms, as they can operate as a unified entity. Ants have a division of labor and can solve complex problems together. The behavior and life of ants have inspired many scientific ideas. In many ways, ants have a positive impact on human society. Ant stories are found in many folklore and popular stories in many cultures around the world. These are some interesting ant facts :

Ants are pretty ancient. Studies suggest that ants appeared on Earth around 168 million years ago. Ants are 20% - 40% of all insect fossils found.

There are over 12,000 known species of ants. Many research suggests that the total number of species can be up to 22,000 species.

There can be over one quadrillion ants living on Earth. Ants need wet and cold weather to live.

Ants live in large numbers within a colony. At least 500 to up to 5000 ants can live in a single colony.

Many different types of ants from a common species live in a colony.

Most ants in a colony are workers. All workers are female ants. Some are fertile males. And only one or two queens live in a colony.

Ants can control the temperature inside the colony. They keep the temperature around 25°C on the inside. This is the optimal temperature for the queen and eggs.

Queen ants can live up to 28 years. Worker ants live for 1-3 years. Male ants live for around 3 months as they are mostly transitory.

Queen ants live more than any other solitary insect of their size.

Queen ants can lay up to three hundred thousand eggs per season.

Ants communicate through various mediums like pheromones, sounds, and touch.

Ants have some extraordinary senses. They can detect noises from vibrations.

Ant's eyes are compound. Many small eyes together make the sight of an ant.

T. gigantea is the largest ants. These ants can grow up to five-centimeter-long. Queen T. gigantea can grow as large as 6 centimeters.

Thief ants are the smallest ant species. They usually live inside houses.

Ants are omnivorous. They eat from both plants and animals.

The Bulldog Ants from Australia is the most dangerous Ant. A Bulldog ant sting kills a full-grown human within 15 minutes.

Weaver ants make their home by folding leaves.

Jack Jumper Ants are known to be venomous. Even an antivenom is developed for treating the ant's sting.

Ants leave a scent while walking. Other ants follow these scents to track another ant. Ants can reach home even in darkness by following this scent track.

Each type of ants makes a distinctive sound. They usually make sound by scraping their abdomen.

Ants are magnificent insects. They are one fine example of evolution. They have managed to survive for millions of years. People in southern China use weaver ants as biological pest control. Ants are an important part of our ecosystem. We hope these facts amaze you next time you see an Ant.