Ants - Social Insects

Ants are one of the most successful groups of insects in the animal kingdom. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors between 110 and 130 million years ago. They diversified after the rise of flowering plants.

Ants can be easily identified by their elbowed antennae and a slender waist.

They are social insects and form highly organized colonies, often consisting of millions of individuals. These larger colonies consist mostly of sterile wingless females forming castes of ¡°workers,¡± ¡°soldiers,¡± or other specialized groups. Ant societies have division of labor, communication between individuals, and an ability to solve complex problems. These parallels with human societies have long been a subject of study.

Ants have colonized almost every landmass on Earth, except a few places like Antarctica and only a few large islands such as Greenland, Iceland, and parts of Polynesia.

Ants communicate with each other using pheromones. Since most ants live on the ground, they use the soil surface to leave pheromone trails that can be followed by other ants. Ants use pheromones for more than just making trails. A crushed ant emits an alarm pheromone.

Ants attack and defend themselves by biting. Many species sting, often injecting or spraying chemicals like formic acid.

Ants perceive smells with their long, thin and mobile antennae. The paired antennae provide information about the direction and intensity of scents.

Many human cultures make use of ants in cuisine, medication and rituals. Some species are useful valued in their role as biological pest control agents.

However, in some cases, ants come into conflict with humans, as they can damage crops and invade buildings.