Ants

Ants (Formicidae)

Ants (pronounced: /ænts/; from Old English: ǣmette) are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the Cretaceous period, about 140 million years ago, and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than 12,500 of an estimated total of 22,000 species have been classified.

Etymology

The word "ant" is derived from ǣmette, an Old English term. The family name Formicidae is derived from the Latin formīca (ant) from which the words in other Romance languages, such as the Portuguese formiga, Italian formica, Spanish hormiga, Romanian furnică, and French fourmi are derived.

Characteristics

Ants have a wide range of physical characteristics specific to their caste. The largest species, the African driver ant, might be up to 5 cm long, while the smallest species, the Pharaoh ant, is as small as 0.75 mm. Ants present a wide range of colors and shapes; some are more primitive and have more "wasp-like" characteristics; others are more advanced and can be quite large, especially the queens and soldiers.

Behavior

Ants form colonies that range in size from a few dozen predatory individuals living in small natural cavities to highly organized colonies that may occupy large territories and consist of millions of individuals. These larger colonies consist mostly of sterile, wingless females forming castes of "workers", "soldiers", or other specialized groups. Nearly all ant colonies also have some fertile males called "drones" and one or more fertile females called "queens".

Medical Significance

Some ant species are important in medicine due to their stings or bites, which can cause significant pain and allergic reactions. The Fire ant and Bullet ant are examples of species with medically significant stings. Ants can also serve as vectors for disease organisms, carrying bacteria or viruses in their bodies or on their bodies.

Related Terms

• Formicidae: The family to which ants belong.
• Hymenoptera: The order of insects that includes ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies.
• African driver ant: A large species of ant known for its aggressive behavior and powerful jaws.
• Pharaoh ant: A small species of ant that is a common household pest.
• Fire ant: A species of ant known for its painful sting.
• Bullet ant: A species of ant with a sting considered to be the most painful of any insect.

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