| Ants Fossil range: Cretaceous - Recent |
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 Meat eater ant feeding on honey
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Cladogram of ant subfamilies
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Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related families of wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. In Phylogenetics, a group of organisms is said to be paraphyletic if the group contains its most recent common ancestor but does not contain all Eusociality ( Greek eu: "good" + "social" is a term used for the highest level of social organization in a hierarchical classification Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described A wasp is any Insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a Bee nor Ant. Bees are flying Insects closely related to Wasps and Ants Bees are a Monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea Hymenoptera is one of the larger orders of Insects comprising the sawflies, Wasps Bees and Ants The name refers to Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. eVolution is the third Album by eLDee, it was due to be released in 2008 The Cretaceous (kriːˈteɪʃəs, usually abbreviated 'K' for its German translation "Kreide" is a geologic period and system, reaching from the end of Today, more than 12,000 species are classified. The following is a thusfar incomplete list of worldwide Ant genera. They are easily identified by their elbowed antennae and a distinctive node-like structure forming a slender waist.
The highly organised colonies and nests of ants may consist of millions of individuals. In Biology, a colony (from Latin colonia) refers to several individual Organisms of the same Species living closely together usually Individuals in a colony are mostly sterile females ("workers", "soldiers", and other castes) with some fertile males ("drones") and one or more fertile females ("queens"). A queen ant is an adult mated female Ant in an Ant colony; generally the mother of all the other ants in that colony Colonies can occupy and use a wide area of land to support themselves. Ant colonies are sometimes described as superorganisms because the colony appears to operate as a unified entity. An ant colony is an underground Lair where Ants live Colonies consist of a series of underground chambers connected to each other and the surface of the earth by A superorganism is an Organism consisting of many organisms This is usually meant to be a Social unit of eusocial animals where Division of labour An entity is something that has a distinct separate Existence, though it need not be a material existence [2]
Ants have colonised almost every landmass on Earth. EARTH was a short-lived Japanese vocal trio which released 6 singles and 1 album between 2000 and 2001 The only places lacking indigenous ants are remote or inhospitable islands. Ants dominate most ecosystems, forming 15–20% of the terrestrial animal biomass. [3] Their success has been attributed to their social structure, ability to modify their habitats, tap resources and defend themselves. Their long co-evolution with other species has led to mimetic, commensal, parasitic and mutualistic relationships. In a broad sense biological co-evolution is "the change of a biological object triggered by the change of a related object" Biological mimicry occurs when a group of organisms the mimics, have In Ecology, commensalism is a kind of symbiotic relationship between two organisms where one benefits and the other is not significantly harmed or helped (like a bird Parasitism is a type of symbiotic relationship between Organisms of different Species. Mutualism is a Biological interaction between individuals of two different Species, where both individuals derive a fitness benefit for example increased [4]
Ant societies have division of labour, communication between individuals and an ability to solve complex problems. Division of labour or specialization is the specialization of cooperative labour in specific circumscribed tasks and roles intended to increase the Productivity Problem solving forms part of thinking. Considered the most complex of all intellectual functions problem solving has been defined as higher-order Cognitive [5] These parallels with human societies have long been an inspiration and subject of study for man. A Civilization is a society in which large numbers of people share a variety of common elements Many human cultures make use of ants in cuisine, medication and rituals. Some species are valued in their role as biological pest control agents. Biological control of pests in Agriculture is a method of controlling pests (including Insects Mites Weeds and plant diseases [6] However, the ability to exploit resources brings ants into conflict with humans, they can damage crops and invade buildings. The accidental introduction of species into new areas and a tendency to sting has made some ants major pests. [7]
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Taxonomy and evolution
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The Formicidae family belongs to the order Hymenoptera, which also includes sawflies, bees and wasps. Hymenoptera is one of the larger orders of Insects comprising the sawflies, Wasps Bees and Ants The name refers to Symphyta redirects here For the Moth Genus, see Symphyta (genus. Bees are flying Insects closely related to Wasps and Ants Bees are a Monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea A wasp is any Insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a Bee nor Ant. Ants are evolved from a lineage within the vespoid wasps. Vespoidea is a superfamily of order Hymenoptera of class Insecta, although older taxonomic schemes may vary in this Phylogenetic analysis suggests that ants arose in the mid-Cretaceous period about 110 to 130 million years ago. The Cretaceous (kriːˈteɪʃəs, usually abbreviated 'K' for its German translation "Kreide" is a geologic period and system, reaching from the end of After the rise of flowering plants about 100 million years ago, they diversified and assumed ecological dominance around 60 million years ago. The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group [9][10][11]
In 1966, E. O. Wilson and others obtained the first amber fossil remains of an ant (Sphecomyrma freyi) from the Cretaceous period. Amber is Fossil tree Resin, which is appreciated for its color and beauty Edward Osborne Wilson (born June 10, 1929) is an American biologist researcher ( Sociobiology, Biodiversity) theorist ( Amber is Fossil tree Resin, which is appreciated for its color and beauty Sphecomyrma freyi is an extinct species of Ant which inhabited the northern hemisphere of the supercontinent Laurasia approximately 80 mya The specimen was trapped in amber from New Jersey and is more than 80 million years old. New Jersey ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. This species provides the clearest evidence of a link between modern ants and non-social wasps. Cretaceous ants shared both wasp-like and modern ant-like characteristics. [12]
During the Cretaceous period, only a few species of primitive ants ranged widely on the super-continent Laurasia (the northern hemisphere). Laurasia (lɔˈreɪʃiə lɔˈreɪʒə was a Supercontinent that most recently existed as a part of the split of the Pangaean supercontinent in the late Mesozoic They were scarce in comparison to other insects, representing about 1% of the population. Ants became dominant after adaptive radiation at the beginning of the Tertiary period. An adaptive radiation is a rapid Evolutionary radiation characterized by an increase in the morphological and ecological diversity of a single rapidly diversifying lineage The chuprichondira geological time interval covers roughly the time span between the demise of the non- avian Dinosaurs and beginning of the most recent Ice Age, approximately By the Oligocene and Miocene ants had come to represent 20–40% of all insects found in major fossil deposits. The Oligocene is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene period and extends from about 33 The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene period and extends from about 23 Of the species that lived in the Eocene epoch, one of approximately ten genera survive to the present. The Eocene epoch (558 ± 02 - 339 ± 01 Ma) is a major division of the Geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Palaeogene period in Of the genera, 56% are represented in Baltic amber fossils (early Oligocene), and 92% of the genera represented in Dominican amber fossils (apparently early Miocene) still survive today. Baltic Seven Islandsgif|right|thumb|330px|A contemporary transnational Euroregion encompasses the islands of the Baltic countries The Dominican Republic ( Spanish: República Dominicana;) is a nation located in the Caribbean region and shares the island of Hispaniola with [13][9]
Termites, sometimes called white ants, are not closely related to ants, although they have similar social structures. The termites are a group of Social Insects usually classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera (but see also taxonomy Velvet ants, although resembling large ants, are wingless female wasps. Mutillidae, or velvet ants, are a family of Wasps whose wingless females resemble Ants though only distantly related A wasp is any Insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a Bee nor Ant. [14][15]
Etymology
The word ant is derived from ante of Middle English which is derived from æmette and emmett of Old English and is related to the Old High German āmeiza from which comes ameise, the German word for ant. [16] The family name Formicidae is derived from the Latin formica for ant.
Distribution and diversity
| Region | Number of species [17] |
|---|---|
| Neotropics | 2162 |
| Nearctic | 580 |
| Europe | 180 |
| Africa | 2500 |
| Asia | 2080 |
| Melanesia | 275 |
| Australia | 985 |
| Polynesia | 42 |
Ants are found on all continents except Antarctica. The article is about the geographic sense of the term For other uses including Regions and Regional, see Region (disambiguation. In Biogeography, Neotropic or Neotropical refers to one of the world's eight terrestrial Ecozones This ecozone includes South and Central America the The Nearctic is one of the eight terrestrial Ecozones dividing the Earth's land surface Melanesia (from Greek: μέλας black, νῆσος island) means "islands of the black-skinned people" For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Polynesia (from Greek: πολύς many, νῆσος island) is a Subregion of Oceania, comprising a large grouping of over Many islands such as Greenland, Iceland, parts of Polynesia and the Hawaiian Islands lack native ant species. Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat meaning "Land of the Greenlanders" Grønland is a self-governing Danish Province located between the Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( Polynesia (from Greek: πολύς many, νῆσος island) is a Subregion of Oceania, comprising a large grouping of over The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the [18][19] Within the environments where they occur, they have been estimated to contribute 15–20% (on average and nearly 25% in the tropics) of the total terrestrial animal biomass, which exceeds that of the vertebrates. Biomass, in Ecology, is the mass of living biological organisms in a given area or Ecosystem at a given time [3]
Ants range in size from 0. 75 to 52 millimetres (0. 030 to 2. 0 in). [20][21] Their colours vary; most are red or black, green is less common, some tropical groups have a metallic lustre. More than 12,000 species are currently recognised, with the greatest diversity in the tropics. The following is a thusfar incomplete list of worldwide Ant genera. Taxonomic studies continue to resolve the classification and systematics of ants. Online databases of ant species, including AntBase and the Hymenoptera Name Server, help in keeping track of the known and newly described species. [22] The relative ease with which ants can be sampled and studied in ecosystems has made them useful as indicator species in biodiversity studies. An indicator species is any Biological species that defines a trait or Characteristic of the environment Biodiversity is the variation of Life forms within a given Ecosystem, Biome or for the entire Earth. [23][24]
Morphology
Ants are distinct in their morphology from other insects by having elbowed antennae, metapleural glands, and by having the second abdominal segment strongly constricted into a node-like petiole, forming a narrow waist between their mesosoma (thorax plus the first abdominal segment, which is fused to it) and gaster (abdomen less the abdominal segments in the petiole). Myrmecia, often called bulldog ants, bull ants, or jack-jumpers (although jack jumper really only describes M The term morphology in Biology refers to the outward appearance ( Shape, Structure, Colour, Pattern) of an Organism Antennae (singular antenna) are paired Appendages connected to the front-most segments of Arthropods In Crustaceans they are Metapleural glands (also called metasternal or metathoracic glands occur only in Ants They produce and secrete Antibiotics onto the surface of the ant's Exoskeleton In Vertebrates such as Mammals the abdomen (belly constitutes the part of the body between the Thorax (chest and Pelvis. In Entomology, the term petiole is most commonly used to refer to the constricted first (and sometimes second Metasomal segment of members of the Hymenopteran The petiole can be formed by one or two nodes (only the second, or the second and third abdominal segments). Ants appear to have three clear divisions which are the head, mesosoma and metasoma or gaster. The mesosoma is the middle part of the body or tagma, of Arthropods whose body is composed of three parts the other two being the Prosoma and the The metasoma is the posterior part of the body or tagma, of Arthropods whose body is composed of three parts the other two being the Prosoma and the [25]
Ants, like other insects, have an exoskeleton, an external covering that provides a protective casing around the body and a place to attach muscles, in contrast to the internal skeletons of humans and other vertebrates. An exoskeleton is an external Skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body in contrast to the internal Endoskeleton of for example a Human. Vertebrates are members of the Subphylum Vertebrata, Chordates with backbones or spinal columns The grouping sometimes includes Insects do not have lungs, but oxygen and other gases like carbon dioxide pass through their exoskeleton through tiny valves called spiracles. lung is the essential Respiration organ in air-breathing Animals including most Tetrapods a few Fish and a few Snails The most primitive Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single Spiracles are small openings on the surface of some Animals that usually lead to Respiratory systems In Elasmobranchs ( Sharks and Insects also lack closed blood vessels but have a long, thin, perforated tube along the top of the body (called the "dorsal aorta") that functions like a heart in that it pumps haemolymph towards the head, thus creating some circulation of the internal fluids. The heart is a muscular organ in all Vertebrates responsible for pumping Blood through the Blood vessels by repeated rhythmic Hemolymph or haemolymph is the Blood analogue used by all Arthropods and most Mollusks that have an Open circulatory system. Their nervous system consists of a ventral nerve cord running the length of the body, with several ganglia and branches along the way into each extremity. The nervous system is a Network of specialized cells that communicate information about an animal's surroundings and itself The ventral nerve cords make up the Nervous system of some phyla of the Invertebrates particularly within the Nematodes Annelids and In Anatomy, a ganglion (pl ganglia) is a tissue mass. Neurology In neurological contexts ganglia are composed mainly of [26]
The head of an ant has many sensory organs. Ants, like most insects, have compound eyes with numerous tiny lenses attached together enabling them to detect movement very well. They also have three small ocelli (simple eyes) on the top of the head, which detect light levels and polarisation. An ocellus (plural ocelli) is a type of Photoreceptor organ in animals Polarization ( ''Brit'' polarisation) is a property of Waves that describes the orientation of their oscillations [27] Most ants have poor to mediocre eyesight and a few are completely blind. Some ants have exceptional vision, though, such as Australia's bulldog ant. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Myrmecia, often called bulldog ants, bull ants, or jack-jumpers (although jack jumper really only describes M Also attached to the head are two antennae ("feelers") which are special organs that detect chemicals. Antennae (singular antenna) are paired Appendages connected to the front-most segments of Arthropods In Crustaceans they are The antennae are used in communication, receiving signals by touch and detecting pheromones released by other ants. A pheromone (from Greek φέρω phero "to bear" + ‘ορμόνη " Hormone " is a Chemical that triggers a natural The antennae are also used as feelers, which can detect air movement and vibration. The head has two strong jaws, the mandibles, used to carry food, manipulate objects, construct nests, and for defence. Insect mandibles are a pair of appendages near the insect’s mouth and the most anterior of the three pairs of oral appendages (the Labrum is more anterior but [26] In some species a small pocket, or infrabuccal chamber, inside the mouth holds food for passing to other ants or their developing larvae. [28]
The mesosoma ("thorax") of the ant is where all six legs are attached. The mesosoma is the middle part of the body or tagma, of Arthropods whose body is composed of three parts the other two being the Prosoma and the The arthropod leg is a form of jointed Appendage of Arthropods usually used for Walking. At the end of each leg is a hooked claw that helps ants climb and hang onto things. A claw is a curved pointed appendage found at the end of a toe or finger in most Mammals, Birds, and some Reptiles. Most queens and male ants have wings; queens shed the wings after the nuptial flight leaving visible stubs, a distinguishing feature of queens. Eusociality ( Greek eu: "good" + "social" is a term used for the highest level of social organization in a hierarchical classification Insect wings are outgrowths of the Insect Exoskeleton that enable insects to fly. Nuptial flight is an important phase in the reproduction of most Ant and some Bee species. Wingless queens (ergatoids) and males can also occur. [26]
The metasoma (the "abdomen") of the ant houses important internal organs including the reproductive organs, respiratory (tracheae) and excretory systems. The metasoma is the posterior part of the body or tagma, of Arthropods whose body is composed of three parts the other two being the Prosoma and the Many species of ants have stingers used for subduing prey and defending their nests. A stinger (a Colloquialism for the term "sting" is a common term for a sharp organ or body part found in various Animals (typically Arthropods [26]
Polymorphism
In a few ants there are physical castes—workers come in a distinct range of sizes, called minor, median, and major workers. Often the larger ants will have disproportionately larger heads, and correspondingly stronger mandibles. Insect mandibles are a pair of appendages near the insect’s mouth and the most anterior of the three pairs of oral appendages (the Labrum is more anterior but Such individuals are sometimes called "soldier" ants because their stronger mandibles make them more effective in fighting other creatures, although they are still workers and their "duties" typically do not vary greatly from the minor or median workers. In a few species the median workers are absent, creating a sharp divide with clear physical difference between the minors and majors. [29] In other ant species there is a continuous variation in size. The smallest and largest workers in Pheidologeton diversus show nearly a 500–fold difference on dry-weight. [30] Workers cannot mate; however, because of the haplodiploid sex-determination system in ants, workers of a number of species are able to lay unfertilised eggs leading to fully fertile haploid males. The haplodiploid sex-determination system determines the sex of the offspring of many Hymenopterans ( Bees Ants and Wasps, and coleopterans ( The role of workers may change with their age and in some species, such as honeypot ants, young workers are fed until their gasters are distended, and play a role in food storage. Honeypot ants, also called honey ants or repletes, are Ants which are gorged with Food by workers, to the point that their These workers with a storage role are called repletes. [31] This polymorphism in morphology and behaviour does not rely on a large or complex genome; an Australian bulldog ant, Myrmecia pilosula, has only a single pair of chromosomes (males have just one chromosome as they are haploid), the lowest number known for any animal. The jack jumper ant, hopper ant or jumper ant, Myrmecia pilosula, is a species of Bulldog ant that is native to Australia. "Haplo" redirects here For the fictional character see The Death Gate Cycle. [32]
Development
The life of an ant starts from an egg. In most Birds and Reptiles an egg ( Latin ovum) is the Zygote, resulting from Fertilization of the Ovum. If the egg is fertilised, the ant will be female (diploid); if not, it will be male (haploid). "Haplo" redirects here For the fictional character see The Death Gate Cycle. "Haplo" redirects here For the fictional character see The Death Gate Cycle. Ants are holometabolous, and develop by complete metamorphosis, passing through larval and pupal stages before they become adults. Holometabolism, also called complete metamorphism, is a term applied to insect groups to describe the specific kind of insect development which includes four Metamorphosis is a Biological process by which an Animal physically develops after Birth or hatching involving a conspicuous and relatively A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example A pupa ( Latin pupa for doll pl pupae or pupas) is the life stage of some Insects undergoing transformation The larva is immobile and is fed and cared for by workers. Food is given to the larvae by trophallaxis, a process in which an ant regurgitates food held in its crop. Trophallaxis is the transfer of food or other fluids among members of a Community through mouth-to-mouth ( stomodeal) or anus-to-mouth ( proctodeal) feeding Regurgitation is the controlled flow of Stomach contents back into the Esophagus and Mouth. A crop (or croup) is a thin-walled expanded portion of the Alimentary tract used for the storage of food prior to Digestion that is found in many animals This is also how adults distribute food, stored in the "social stomach", among themselves. The larvae grow through a series of moults and enter the pupal stage. In Biology, moulting (or molting, also known as shedding or for some species Ecdysis) signifies the manner in which an animal routinely The pupa is exarate as in most other apocritan hymenoptera, having the appendages held free. [33] The differentiation into queens and workers (which are both female), and different castes of workers (when they exist), is determined by the nutrition that the larvae obtain. Castes are Hereditary systems of occupation, Endogamy, social culture, Social class, and Political power. Larvae and pupae need to be kept at fairly constant temperatures to ensure proper development, and so are often moved around the various brood chambers within the colony. [34]
A new worker spends the first few days of its adult life caring for the queen and young. After that it graduates to digging and other nest work, and then to foraging and defence of the nest. These changes are sometimes fairly abrupt and define what are called temporal castes. One theory of why this occurs is because foraging has a high death rate, so ants only participate in it when they are older and closer to death anyway. [35][36]
Most of the commoner ant species have a system in which only the queen and breeding females have the ability to mate. Contrary to popular belief, some ant nests have multiple queens while others can exist in the absence of queens. Workers with the ability to reproduce are called "gamergates" and colonies that lack queens are then called gamergate colonies while those with queens are said to be queen-right. [37] The winged male ants, called drones, emerge from pupae along with the breeding females (although some species, like army ants have wingless queens), and do nothing in life except eat and mate. The name army ant (or legionary ant or " Marabunta " is applied to over 200 Ant species in different lineages due to their aggressive predatory During the short breeding period the reproductives, excluding the colony queen, are carried outside where other colonies of similar species are doing the same. Then, all the winged breeding ants take flight. Mating occurs in flight and the males die shortly afterwards. The females that survive land and seek a suitable place to begin a colony. There, they break off their own wings and begin to lay eggs, which they care for. Sperm obtained during their nuptial flight is stored and used to fertilise all future eggs produced. A spermatozoon or spermatozoan ( pl spermatozoa) from the Ancient Greek σπέρμα (seed and ζῷον (living being and more commonly known Nuptial flight is an important phase in the reproduction of most Ant and some Bee species. The first workers to hatch are weak and smaller than later workers, but they begin to serve the colony immediately. They enlarge the nest, forage for food and care for the other eggs. This is how most new colonies start. A few species that have multiple queens can start a new colony as a queen from the old nest takes a number of workers to a new site and founds a colony there. [38]
Ant colonies can be long-lived. The queens can live for up to 30 years, and workers live from 1 to 3 years. Males, however, are more transitory, surviving only a few weeks. [39] Thus ants are more K-selected than most insects. In Ecology, r/K selection theory relates to the selection of traits which promote success in particular environments Ant queens are estimated to live 100 times longer than solitary insects of a similar size. [40]
Ants survive the winter by going into a state of dormancy or inactivity. The forms of inactivity are varied and some temperate species have larvae going into diapause while in others the adults alone pass the winter in a state of reduced activity. Diapause is a Physiological state of Dormancy with very specific triggering and releasing conditions Ants are active all year long in the tropics. [41]
Behaviour and ecology
Communication
Ants communicate with each other through pheromones. A pheromone (from Greek φέρω phero "to bear" + ‘ορμόνη " Hormone " is a Chemical that triggers a natural These chemical signals are more developed in ants than in other hymenopteran groups. Hymenoptera is one of the larger orders of Insects comprising the sawflies, Wasps Bees and Ants The name refers to Like other insects, ants smell with their long, thin and mobile antennae. The paired antennae provide information about direction as well as intensity. Since ants spend their life in contact with the ground, the soil surface makes a good place to leave a pheromone trail that can be followed by other ants. In those species which forage in groups, when a forager finds food they mark a trail on the way back to the colony, and this is followed by other ants that reinforce the trail when they head back to the colony. When the food is exhausted, no new trails are marked by returning ants and the scent slowly dissipates. This behaviour helps ants adapt to changes in their environment. When an established path to a food source is blocked by a new obstacle, the foragers leave the path to explore new routes. If successful, the returning ant leaves a new trail marking the shortest route. Successful trails are followed by more ants, and each reinforces the trail with more pheromone (ants will follow the heaviest marked trails). [42]
Ants use pheromones for more than just making trails. A crushed ant will emit an alarm pheromone which in high concentration sends nearby ants into an attack frenzy; and in lower concentration, merely attracts them. Several ant species use "propaganda pheromones" to confuse their enemies, causing them to fight amongst themselves. [43] Pheromones are produced by a wide range of glandular structures including Dufour's glands, poison glands and glands on the hindgut, pygidium, rectum, sternum and hind tibia. [40] Pheromones are also exchanged mixed with food and passed by trophallaxis, transferring information within the colony. [44] Ants can detect what task group (e. g. foraging or nest maintenance) other ants belong to. [45] In ant species with queen castes, workers begin to raise new queens in the colony when the dominant queen stops producing a specific pheromone. [46]
Some ants also produce sounds by stridulation using the gaster segments and also using their mandibles. Stridulation is the act of producing Sound by rubbing together certain body parts They may serve to communicate among colony members as well as in interactions with other species. [47][48]
Defence
Ants attack and defend themselves by biting and in many species, by stinging, often injecting or spraying chemicals like formic acid. Weaver ants or Green ants ( Genus Oecophylla) are Eusocial Insects of the family Formicidae (order Hymenoptera The mandible (from Latin mandibula, "jawbone" or inferior maxillary bone forms the lower Jaw and holds the lower teeth in place Formic acid (systematically called methanoic acid) is the simplest Carboxylic acid. Bullet ants (the genus Paraponera), located in Central and South America, are considered to have the most painful sting among insects, although these are usually non-fatal. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a They are given the highest rating on the Schmidt Sting Pain Index. The Schmidt Sting Pain Index or the Justin O Schmidt Pain Index is a Pain scale rating the relative pain caused by different Hymenopteran stings Jack jumper ants, Myrmecia pilosula, located in Australia have stings that can kill susceptible humans. The jack jumper ant, hopper ant or jumper ant, Myrmecia pilosula, is a species of Bulldog ant that is native to Australia. The jack jumper ant, hopper ant or jumper ant, Myrmecia pilosula, is a species of Bulldog ant that is native to Australia. [49] A vaccine from its venom extract has however been developed. [50] Fire ants, Solenopsis spp. Fire ants, (referred to as red ants in the UK) are stinging Ants with over 280 species worldwide Fire ants, (referred to as red ants in the UK) are stinging Ants with over 280 species worldwide , are unique in having a poison sac containing piperidine alkaloids. Piperidine is an Organic compound with the molecular formula (CH25NH [51] They are also of medical significance and hypersensitive humans can be at risk. [52]
Ants of the genus Odontomachus are equipped with mandibles called trap-jaws. Odontomachus is a genus of carnivorous Ants found in the Tropics and Subtropics throughout the world This snap-jaw or catapult mechanism, is enabled by a large band of muscles that are released by a "trigger". The blow is incredibly fast, snapping together within 0. 13 ms in Odontomachus bauri. A millisecond (from Milli- and Second; abbreviation ms is one thousandth of a Second. Odontomachus bauri is a species of ponerinae Ant. It is found from southern Costa Rica throughout tropical South America, the This is far faster than any other predatory movement in the animal kingdom. [53] Before the strike, the mandibles open wide and are locked in the open position. The attack is triggered by stimulation of sensory hairs at the side of the mandibles. The mandibles are also able to function as a tool for more finely adjusted tasks. Trap-jaws are also seen in the Dacetini, an example of convergent evolution. Convergent evolution describes the acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated lineages [54]
Apart from defence against predators, ants also need to protect their colonies from disease organisms. Some ant workers' maintain the hygiene of the colony and their activities include undertaking or necrophory, the transport of dead nest-mates. A funeral director (also known as a mortician or undertaker) is someone involved in the business of Funeral rites [55] Oleic acid has been identified as the compound released by dead ants that triggers undertaking behaviour in Atta mexicana. [56]
Nests may also be protected from physical threats such as flooding by elaborate structures such as elevated chambers and entrances. Workers of Cataulacus muticus, an arboreal species that lives in plant hollows, respond to flooding by drinking water inside the nest, and excreting it outside. [57]
Learning
Many types of animals can learn behaviours by imitation but ants may be the only group apart from mammals where interactive teaching has been observed. In the fields of Neuropsychology, Personal development and Education, Learning is one of the most important Mental function of humans Imitation is an advanced Behavior whereby an individual observes and replicates another's Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands A knowledgeable forager of Temnothorax albipennis leads a naïve nest-mate to newly discovered food by the excruciatingly slow process of tandem running. Tandem running is a method of Recruitment used by some Species of Ants such as Temnothorax albipennis, to lead nestmates to food The follower obtains knowledge through its leading tutor. Both leader and follower are acutely sensitive to the progress of their partner with the leader slowing down when the follower lags, and speeding up when the follower gets too close. [58]
Controlled experiments with colonies of Cerapachys biroi suggest that nest roles are taken up based on their previous experience. An entire generation of identical workers was divided into two groups whose outcome in food foraging was controlled by the researchers. One group was continually rewarded with prey, while it was made certain that the other failed. As a result, members of the successful group intensified their foraging attempts while the unsuccessful group ventured out less and less. A month later, the successful foragers continued in their role while the others moved to specialise in brood care. [59]
Nest construction
Complex nests and galleries are built by many ants but some species are nomadic and do not build permanent structures. An ant colony is an underground Lair where Ants live Colonies consist of a series of underground chambers connected to each other and the surface of the earth by An ant colony is an underground Lair where Ants live Colonies consist of a series of underground chambers connected to each other and the surface of the earth by Weaver ants or Green ants ( Genus Oecophylla) are Eusocial Insects of the family Formicidae (order Hymenoptera Pamalican is a small island of the Cuyo island group in the Sulu Sea, between Palawan and Panay, in the north part of the Palawan The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP Various species may form subterranean nests or build them on trees. Nests can be found in the ground, under stones or logs, inside logs, hollow stems or even acorns. The materials used for construction include soil and plant matter,[38] and ants carefully select their nest sites; Temnothorax albipennis will avoid sites with dead ants, as these may be indicators of pests or disease. They are also quick to abandon established nest sites at the first sign of these threats. [60]
The army ants of South America and the driver ants of Africa do not build permanent nests, but instead alternate between nomadism and stages where the workers form a temporary nest (bivouac) out of their own bodies. The name army ant (or legionary ant or " Marabunta " is applied to over 200 Ant species in different lineages due to their aggressive predatory South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a The Army ant genus Dorylus, also known as driver ants, safari ants or siafu, are found primarily in central and east Africa A bivouac is a structure formed by migratory Army ant and Driver ant colonies where a nest is constructed out of the living ant worker's own bodies to protect the [61]
Weaver ant (Oecophylla spp. Weaver ants or Green ants ( Genus Oecophylla) are Eusocial Insects of the family Formicidae (order Hymenoptera ) workers build nests in trees by attaching leaves together, first pulling them together with bridges of workers and then inducing their larvae to produce silk as they are moved along the leaf edges. Similar forms of nest construction are seen in some species of Polyrhachis. [62]
Food cultivation
Leafcutter ants (Atta and Acromyrmex) feed exclusively on a specially adapted fungus that grows only within their colonies. Leafcutter ants are social Insects found in warmer regions of the Americas. Ant-fungus mutualism is a Symbiosis seen in certain Ant and fungal species where ants actively cultivate fungus much like humans farm crops Leafcutter ants are social Insects found in warmer regions of the Americas. Atta is a Genus of New World Ants of the Subfamily Myrmicinae. A fungus (ˈfʌŋgəs is a eukaryotic Organism that is a member of the kingdom Fungi (ˈfʌndʒaɪ They continually collect leaves which are returned to the colony, cut into tiny pieces and placed in fungal gardens. In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. The workers are divided into a range of sizes, each suited to different tasks. The largest ants cut stalks, smaller workers chew the leaves and the smallest tend the fungus. Leafcutter ants are sensitive enough to recognise the fungi's reaction to different plant material, apparently detecting chemical signals from the fungus. If a particular type of leaf is toxic to the fungus the colony will no longer collect it. The ants feed on special structures produced by the fungi called gongylidia. Symbiotic bacteria on the exterior surface of the ants produce antibiotics that help keep away bacteria that may be harmful to the fungi. This article is about the biological phenomenon for other uses see Symbiosis (disambiguation The term symbiosis (from the Greek [63]
Navigation
Desert ants Cataglyphis fortis make use of visual landmarks in combination with other cues to navigate. [64] In the absence of visual landmarks, the closely related Sahara desert ant (Cataglyphis bicolor) has been shown to navigate by keeping track of direction as well as distance travelled, like an internal pedometer that keeps tracks of how many steps they take in each direction, and integrate this information to find the shortest route back to their nest. The Sahara Desert ant ( Cataglyphis bicolor) is a Desert -dwelling Ant of the genus Cataglyphis. Omron HJ112JPG|thumb|A digital Omron HJ-112 pedometer]] A pedometer (also known as a Tomish-meter perhaps after the alleged Inventor of a successful device The European Space Agency 's INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory ( INTEGRAL) is detecting some of the most energetic radiation that comes from space [65] Several species of ants are able to detect and use the Earth's magnetic field. [66] Ants' compound eyes have specialised cells that detect polarised light from the Sun, which is used to determine direction. [67][68]
Locomotion
Worker ants do not have wings and reproductive females remove theirs after their mating flights in order to begin their colonies. Harpegnathos saltator, sometimes called Jerdon's jumping ant, is a species of Ant found in India. Therefore, unlike their wasp ancestors, most ants travel by walking. Walking (also called ambulation) is the main form of Animal Locomotion on land, distinguished from Running and crawling Some ants are capable of leaping. A particularly notable species is Jerdon's jumping ant, Harpegnathos saltator. Harpegnathos saltator, sometimes called Jerdon's jumping ant, is a species of Ant found in India. Jumps are made by the synchronised action of the mid and hind pair of legs. [69]
The more cooperative species of ants sometimes form chains to bridge gaps, whether that be over water, underground, or through spaces in vegetation. Some species also form floating rafts that help them survive floods. They may also have a role in colonisation of islands. [70] Polyrhachis sokolova, a species of ant found in Australian mangrove swamps, can swim and lives in nests that are submerged underwater. Polyrhachis sokolova is a species of Ant which has been recently discovered to be capable of living underwater For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Mangroves (generally are Trees and Shrubs that grow in saline coastal habitats in the Tropics and Subtropics. They make use of trapped pockets of air in the submerged nests. [71]
There are several species of gliding ant including Cephalotes atratus, this may be a common trait among most arboreal ants. Gliding ants are Arboreal Ants of several different genera that are able to control the direction of their descent when falling from a tree in order to land Ants with this ability are able to control the direction of their descent while falling. [72]
Cooperation and competition
Not all ants have the same kind of societies. The Australian bulldog ants are among the biggest and most basal (primitive) of ants. Myrmecia, often called bulldog ants, bull ants, or jack-jumpers (although jack jumper really only describes M In Phylogenetics, a basal Clade is the earliest clade to branch in a larger clade it appears at the base of a cladogram Each individual hunts alone, using its large eyes instead of its chemical senses to find prey. Like all ants they are social, but their social behaviour is poorly developed compared to more advanced species. [73][74]
Some species (such as Tetramorium caespitum) attack and take over neighbouring ant colonies. The pavement Ant, Tetramorium caespitum, is a common household pest Others are less expansionist but nonetheless just as aggressive; they invade colonies to steal eggs or larvae, which they either eat or raise as workers/slaves. Extreme specialists of these slave-raiding ants, such as the Amazon ants, are incapable of feeding themselves, and must rely on captured worker ants to care for them . Polyergus, or Legionnaire ant, is a small Genus of 6 described species (and several possible undescribed species of " slave-raiding In some cases ant colonies may have other species of ants or termites within the same nest. [75]
Some ant species enter the colonies of others and establish themselves as social parasites; species like Strumigenys xenos are parasitic to the extent that they do not have workers but instead rely on their Strumigenys perplexa hosts. [76][77]
Ants identify kin and nestmates through their scents, hydrocarbon-laced secretions that coats their exoskeletons. In Organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an Organic compound consisting entirely of Hydrogen and Carbon. If an ant is separated from its original colony, it will eventually lose the colony scent. Any ant that enters a colony with a different scent than that of the colony will be attacked. [78] (See also Kin selection)
Relationships with other species
Ants are associated with a wide range of species and form mutualisms with other insects, plants, and fungi. They parasitise each other. They are preyed on by many animals and even certain fungi. Because their nests are such hospitable places, many species of arthropods sneak in and integrate themselves in various ways to the ant's daily lives. These inquilines sometimes bear a close resemblance to ants. In Zoology, an inquiline (from Latin inquilinus, "lodger" or "tenant" is an Animal that lives commensally in The adaptive significance of resemblance to ants, ant mimicry or myrmecomorphy, is not clear. Ant mimicry is Mimicry of Ants by other organisms Ants are abundant all over the world and insect Predators that rely on vision to identify their prey such The exact nature of mimicry varies with some cases involving Batesian mimicry, where the mimic reduces the risk of predation. Biological mimicry occurs when a group of organisms the mimics, have Batesian mimicry is a form of Mimicry typified by a situation where a harmless species has evolved to imitate the warning signals of a harmful species directed at a common Other forms show Wasmannian mimicry, a form of mimicry associated with inquilinism. Biological mimicry occurs when a group of organisms the mimics, have [79][80]
Aphids secrete a sweet liquid called honeydew which they exude in the process of feeding from plants. Honeydew is a Sugar -rich sticky substance secreted by Aphids and some Scale insects as they feed on Plant sap. The sugars can provide a high-energy food source, which many ant species collect. In some cases the aphids secrete the honeydew specifically in response to the ants tapping them with their antennae. The ants in turn keep predators away and will move the aphids around to better feeding locations. On migrating to a new area, many colonies will take new aphids with them, to ensure that they have a supply of honeydew in the new area. Ants also tend mealybugs to harvest their honeydew. Mealybug is the common name of insects in Pseudococcidae, a family of unarmored Scale insects found in moist warm climates Mealybugs can become a serious pest of pineapples if ants are present to protect mealybugs from natural enemies. [81] Myrmecophilous (ant-loving) caterpillars of the family Lycaenidae (e. A myrmecophile is an organism that lives in association with Ants Myrmecophily literally means ant-loving and refers to mutualistic associations Caterpillars are the Larval form of a member of the order Lepidoptera (the Insect order comprising butterflies and Moths The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies g. , blues, coppers, or hairstreaks) are herded by the ants, led to feeding areas in the daytime, and brought inside the ants' nest at night. The caterpillars have a gland which secretes honeydew when the ants massage them. Some caterpillars are known to produce vibrations and sounds that are sensed by the ants. [82] Some caterpillars have evolved from being ant-loving to ant-eating and these myrmecophagous caterpillars secrete a pheromone which makes the ants think that the caterpillar is one of their own larvae. The caterpillar is then taken into the ants' nest where it feeds on the ant larvae. [83]
Fungus-growing ants that make up the tribe Attini, including leafcutter ants, actively cultivate certain species of fungus in the Leucoagaricus or Leucocoprinus genera of the Agaricaceae family. The fungus-growing ants (tribe Attini comprises all the known Fungus -growing Ant species in the world participating in Ant-fungus mutualism The fungus-growing ants (tribe Attini comprises all the known Fungus -growing Ant species in the world participating in Ant-fungus mutualism Leafcutter ants are social Insects found in warmer regions of the Americas. The Agaricaceae is a family of Basidiomycete fungi and includes organisms previously known as Tulostomataceae and Lepiotaceae In this ant-fungus mutualism, both species depend on each other for survival. Ant-fungus mutualism is a Symbiosis seen in certain Ant and fungal species where ants actively cultivate fungus much like humans farm crops The ant Allomerus decemarticulatus has evolved a tripartite association with their host plant Hirtella physophora (Chrysobalanaceae), and a sticky fungus which is used to trap their insect prey. Allomerus decemarticulatus is a species of Ant that is notable for its tripartite Symbiosis with its host plant and a Fungus, which it uses [84]
Lemon ants make devil's gardens by selectively killing surrounding plants and leaving a pure patch of lemon ant trees Duroia hirsuta. Myrmelachista schumanni, also known as the lemon ant, is a species of Ant that is notable for the creation of Devil's gardens Using its own Devil's Garden is located in Arches National Park in Moab, Utah and is a series of Rock fins that have broken out of the Earth [85] Many trees have extrafloral nectaries that provide food for ants and the ants in turn protect the plant from herbivorous insects. Nectar is a Sugar -rich liquid produced by plants It is produced either by the Flowers in which it attracts pollinating animals or by extrafloral Plant defense against herbivory or host-plant resistance (HPR includes a range of Adaptations evolved Herbivory is a form of Predation in which an Organism, known as a herbivore, consumes principally Autotrophs ref name=Campbell>Campbell [86] Some species like the bullhorn acacia, Acacia cornigera, in Central America have hollow thorns that serve to house colonies of stinging ants, Pseudomyrmex ferruginea, that defend the tree against insects, browsing mammals, and epiphytic vines. Acacia cornigera, commonly known as Bullhorn Acacia ( family Fabaceae) is a swollen-thorn Acacia native to Mexico An epiphyte is an organism that grows upon or attaches to a living plant Isotopic labeling studies suggest that plants may also obtain nitrogenous nutrients from symbiotic ants. Isotopic labeling is a technique for tracking the passage of a sample of substance through a system [87] In return, the ants obtain food from protein-lipid Beltian bodies. Another example of this type of ectosymbiosis comes from the Macaranga tree which have stems adapted to house colonies of Crematogaster ants. Ectosymbiosis is Symbiosis in which the Symbiont lives on the body surface of the host, including internal surfaces such as the lining of the digestive For other uses of "Phocea" see Phocea (Yacht. Macaranga is a large Genus of Old World Crematogaster is an ecologically diverse genus of Ants found worldwide which are characterised by a distinctive heart-shaped gaster ( Abdomen) Many tropical tree species have seeds that are dispersed by ants. [88] Seed dispersal by ants or myrmecochory is widespread particularly in Africa and Australia. Myrmecochory is a botanical term for "seed dispersal by Ants " [89] Some plants in fire-prone grassland systems are particularly dependent on ants for their survival and dispersal. Many ant-dispersed seeds have special external structures, elaiosomes, that are sought after by ants as food. Elaiosomes (elaios- oil some- body are fleshy structures that are attached to the Seeds of many Plant species [90] A convergence, possibly a form of mimicry, is seen in the eggs of stick insects. Convergent evolution describes the acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated lineages Biological mimicry occurs when a group of organisms the mimics, have "Phasmid" redirects here For the cloning vector used in genetics see Phagemid. They have an edible elaisome-like structure and are taken into the ant nest where the young hatch. [91]
Flies in the Old World genus Bengalia (Calliphoridae) are kleptoparasites which prey on ants and often snatch prey or brood from the adult ants. Meat ants ( Iridomyrmex purpureus) also known as meat-eater ants or gravel ants, are a Species of Ant belonging to the Leafhopper is a common name applied to any species from the family Cicadellidae. Bengalia is a genus of blow flies in the family Calliphoridae with one authority considering the genus to belong to a separate family Bengaliidae Kleptoparasitism or cleptoparasitism (literally Parasitism by Theft) is a form of Feeding where one animal takes Prey from another [92] Wingless and legless females of the Malaysian phorid fly Vestigipoda myrmolarvoidea live in the nests of ants of the genus Aenictus and are cared for by the ants. For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and Phoridae is a family of small hump-backed Flies resembling fruit flies. The Army ant genus Aenictus is an enigmatic group known from Africa, tropical Asia, and Queensland. [92]
A fungus, Cordyceps, infects ants, causing them to climb up plants and sink their mandibles into the plant tissue. Cordyceps is a Genus of Ascomycete Fungi that includes about 400 described species The fungus kills and engulfs the ant and produces its fruiting body. It appears that the fungus alters the behaviour of the ant and uses the ant to help disperse its spores. [93] Strepsipteran parasites also manipulate their ant host to climb grass stems so as to help the parasite find mates. The Strepsiptera (known in older literature as twisted-winged parasites) are an order of Insects with nine families making up about 600 species [94] A nematode (Myrmeconema neotropicum) that infects canopy ants Cephalotes atratus causes the gasters of workers to turn red. The parasite also alters the behaviour of the ant, causing them to carry their gasters high. The conspicuous red gasters are mistaken by birds for ripe fruits such as Hyeronima alchorneoides and eaten. The droppings of the bird are collected by other ants and fed to their young leading to the further spread of the nematode. [95]
South American frogs in the genus Dendrobates feed primarily on ants and the toxins on their skin may be derived from the ants. Dendrobates is a genus of Poison dart frogs native to South America. [96] Several South American antbirds follow army ants to feed on insects flushed. The antbirds are a large family, Thamnophilidae, of Passerine Birds found across subtropical and tropical Central and South America [97] Birds indulge in a peculiar behaviour called anting that is as yet not fully understood. In the Behavior called anting, Birds rub insects on their feathers usually Ants which secrete liquids containing chemicals such as Formic acid Here birds may rest on ant nests or pick and drop ants onto their wings and feathers, presumably to rid themselves of ectoparasites. Parasitism is a type of symbiotic relationship between Organisms of different Species. Anteaters, pangolins and several marsupial species in Australia have special adaptations for living on a primary diet of ants. Anteaters are the four Mammal species of the suborder Vermilingua commonly known for eating Ants and Termites Together with the Sloths Marsupials are an Infraclass of Mammals characterized by a distinctive pouch (called the marsupium) in which females carry their young through An adaptation is a characteristic of an Organism that has been favored by Natural selection and These adaptations include long sticky tongues to pick the ants and strong claws to break into the ant nests. Brown bears (Ursus arctos) have been found to feed on ants, with as much as 12%, 16%, and 4% of their faecal volume in spring, summer, and autumn, respectively being made up of ants. The Brown Bear ( Ursus arctos) is an Omnivorous Mammal of the family Ursidae, distributed across much of northern Eurasia and [98]
Relationship with humans
Ants perform many ecological roles that are beneficial to humans including the suppression of pest populations and aeration of the soil. A pest is an organism which has characteristics that are regarded by Humans as injurious or unwanted Soil, often typeset as SOiL, is a four piece rock band from Chicago Illinois United States founded by Shaun Glass Tom Schofield Tim King and Adam Zadel The use of weaver ants in citrus cultivation in southern China is considered as one of the oldest known applications of biological control. Weaver ants or Green ants ( Genus Oecophylla) are Eusocial Insects of the family Formicidae (order Hymenoptera Biological control of pests in Agriculture is a method of controlling pests (including Insects Mites Weeds and plant diseases [6] On the other hand, ants can become nuisances when they invade habitations or cause economic losses.
In some parts of the world large ants, especially army ants, are used as sutures by pressing the wound together and applying ants along it. The name army ant (or legionary ant or " Marabunta " is applied to over 200 Ant species in different lineages due to their aggressive predatory The ant in defensive attitude seizes the edges in its mandibles and locks in place. The body is then cut off and the head and mandibles can remain in place, closing the wound. [99][100]
Some ants of the family Ponerinae have toxic venom and are of medical importance. The species include Paraponera clavata (Tocandira) and Dinoponera spp. (false Tocandiras) of South America[101] and the Myrmecia ants of Australia. [102] In South Africa, ants are used to help harvest rooibos, Aspalathus linearis, the small seeds of which are used to make a herbal tea. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Rooibos (ˈrɔɪbɒs like "roy-boss" Afrikaans for "red bush" scientific name Aspalathus linearis) is a [103]
As food
Ants and their larvae are eaten in different parts of the world. Isan ( Isan /อีสาน also written as Isaan Isarn Issan or Esarn is the northeast region of Thailand. Entomophagy (from Greek ἔντομος éntomos, "insect(ed" and φᾰγεῖν phăgein, "to eat" which together The eggs of two species of ants are the basis for the dish in Mexico known as "escamoles". Escamoles are the Larvae of Ants of the genus Liometopum, harvested from the roots of the They are considered a form of insect caviar and can sell as high as 40 USD per pound because they are seasonal and hard to find. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been In the Colombian department of Santander, hormigas culonas (Spanish for "fatass ants") Atta laevigata are toasted alive and eaten. Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. Atta laevigata is one of about a dozen species of leafcutter ants in the genus Atta, found from Colombia south to Paraguay [104]
In areas of India, and throughout Burma and Siam, a paste of the green weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina, is served as a condiment with curry. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj Oecophylla smaragdina ( Common names include Weaver ant, green ant, green tree ant, and orange gaster Curry is the English description of any of a general variety of spicy dishes best known in Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan [105] Weaver ant eggs and larvae as well as the ants themselves may be used in a Thai salad, yum (ยำ), in a dish called yum khai mod daeng (ยำไข่มดแดง) or red ant egg salad, a dish that comes from the Issan or north-eastern region of Thailand. Weaver ants or Green ants ( Genus Oecophylla) are Eusocial Insects of the family Formicidae (order Hymenoptera Saville Kent, in the Naturalist in Australia wrote "Beauty, in the case of the green ant, is more than skin-deep. Their attractive, almost sweetmeat-like translucency possibly invited the first essays at their consumption by the human species". Mashed up in water, after the manner of lemon squash, "these ants form a pleasant acid drink which is held in high favor by the natives of North Queensland, and is even appreciated by many European palates". [106]
John Muir, in his First Summer in the Sierra notes that the Digger Indians of California ate the tickly acid gasters of the large jet-black carpenter ants. John Muir ( April 21, 1838 – December 24, 1914) was a Scottish -born American Naturalist, author and early California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The Mexican Indians eat the replete workers, or living honey-pots, of the honey ant (Myrmecocystus). Honeypot ants, also called honey ants or repletes, are Ants which are gorged with Food by workers, to the point that their [106]
As pests
Some ant species are considered pests,[7] and because of the adaptive nature of ant colonies, eliminating them is nearly impossible. Pest control is a matter of controlling local populations, instead of eliminating an entire colony, most attempts at control are temporary solutions.
Typical ants that are classified as pests include pavement ants, sugar ants, Pharaoh ants, carpenter ants, Argentine ants, and red imported fire ants. The pavement Ant, Tetramorium caespitum, is a common household pest The sugar ant ( Camponotus consobrinus) - also known as the banded sugar ant - is a relatively large Ant, exclusive to Australia The pharaoh ant ( Monomorium pharaonis) is a small (2 mm) yellow or light brown almost transparent Ant notorious for being a major indoor Carpenter ants are large Ants (¼ in –1 in indigenous to many parts of the world The Argentine ant ( Linepithema humile, formerly Iridomyrmex humilis) is a tiny dark Ant native to northern Argentina, Uruguay The red imported fire ants ( Solenopsis invicta) or simply RIFA, is one of over 280 members of the widespread Genus Solenopsis. Control of populations is achieved using insecticide baits, either in granule or liquid formulations. Bait is gathered by the ants as food and brought back to the nest where the poison is inadvertently spread to other members of the brood – a system that can severely reduce the numbers in a colony if used properly. Boric acid and borax are often used as insecticides that are relatively safe for humans. Boric acid, also called boracic acid or orthoboric acid or Acidum Boricum, is a mild Acid often used as an Antiseptic, Insecticide Borax (from Persian burah) also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important Boron An insecticide is a Pesticide used against Insects in all developmental forms With the recent insurgence of the red fire ant, a tactic called broadcast baiting has been employed, by which the substance (usually a granule bait designed specifically for fire ants) is spread across a large area, such as a lawn, in order to control populations. Nests may be destroyed by tracing the ants' trails back to the nest, then pouring boiling water into it to kill the queen. This works in about 60% of the mounds and needs about 14 litres (3 gallons) per mound. [107]
In science and technology
- See also: Myrmecology, Biomimetics, and Ant colony optimisation
Myrmecologists study ants both in the laboratory and in their natural conditions using a number of tools and techniques. Myrmecology (from Greek μύρμεξ myrmex, "ant" and λόγος logos, "knowledge" is the scientific study of Ants Biomimicry (from Bios, meaning life and mimesis, meaning to imitate is a relatively new science that studies Nature, its models systems processes and The ant colony optimization Algorithm (ACO introduced by Marco Dorigo in 1992 in his PhD thesis is a probabilistic technique for solving computational Myrmecology (from Greek μύρμεξ myrmex, "ant" and λόγος logos, "knowledge" is the scientific study of Ants The complex and variable social structures have made ants ideal model organisms for testing ideas in contemporary biology. A model organism is a Species that is extensively studied to understand particular biological Phenomena, with the expectation that discoveries made Studies on ants have provided ideas in ecology, sociobiology and means to test hypotheses based on the theories of kin selection and evolutionarily stable strategies. Ecology (from Greek grc οἶκος oikos, "house(hold" and grc -λογία -logia) is the scientific study of Sociobiology is a neo-Darwinian and Socialism Synthesis of Scientific disciplines that attempts to explain Social behavior From the time of antiquity field biologists have observed that some organisms tend to exhibit strategies that favor the reproductive success of their relatives even at a cost to their own survival In Game theory and Behavioural ecology, an evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS is a strategy which if adopted by a population of players Ant colonies can be studied by rearing or temporarily maintaining them in formicaria, specially constructed glass framed enclosures. [108] Individuals may be tracked for study by marking them with colours. [109]
The successful techniques used by ant colonies have been studied in computer science and robotics to produce distributed and fault-tolerant systems for solving problems. This area of biomimetics has led to studies of ant locomotion, search engines that make use of "foraging trails", fault tolerant storage and networking algorithms. Biomimicry (from Bios, meaning life and mimesis, meaning to imitate is a relatively new science that studies Nature, its models systems processes and [5]
In culture
Ants have often been used in fables and children's stories to represent industriousness and cooperative effort. Aesop (also spelled Æsop, from the Greek Αἴσωπος — Aisōpos) (620-560 BC) known only for the genre of Fables Milo Winter ( August 7, 1888 - 1956 was a book illustrator who produced works for editions of Aesop's Fables, Arabian Nights They are also mentioned in religious texts. [110][111] In the Book of Proverbs in the Bible, ants are held up as a good example for humans for their hard work and cooperation. The Book of Proverbs is one of the books of the Ketuvim of the Tanakh, and thus also one of the books of the Old Testament. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin Aesop did the same in his fable "The Grasshopper and the Ants". Aesop (also spelled Æsop, from the Greek Αἴσωπος — Aisōpos) (620-560 BC) known only for the genre of Fables In parts of Africa, ants are considered to be the messengers of the gods. Ant bites are often said to have curative properties. The sting of some species of Pseudomyrmex is claimed to give fever relief. Pseudomyrmex is a Genus of stinging wasp-like Ants in the family Formicidae. [112] Some Native American mythology, such as the Hopi mythology, consider ants as the very first animals. Like other religions Native American belief systems include many sacred narratives The Hopi maintain a complex religious and mythological tradition stretching back over centuries Others use ant bites in initiation ceremonies as a test of endurance. Initiation is a Rite of passage Ceremony marking entrance or acceptance into a group or society [113][114]
The Japanese word for ant, ari, is represented by an ideograph formed of the character for insect combined with the character signifying moral rectitude, propriety (giri). So the Japanese character could possibly be read as The Propriety-Insect. [115]
Ant society has always fascinated humans and has been written about both humorously and seriously. Mark Twain wrote about ants in his A Tramp Abroad. Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30 1835 – April 21 1910 better known by the Pen name Mark Twain, was an American Humorist, satirist A Tramp Abroad is a work of non-fiction Travel literature by American author Mark Twain, published in 1880. Some modern authors have used the example of the ants to comment on the relationship between society and the individual. Examples are Robert Frost in his poem "Departmental" and T. H. White in his fantasy novel The Once and Future King. Robert Lee Frost (March 26 1874 &ndash January 29 1963 was an American Poet. Terence Hanbury White ( 29 May 1906 &ndash 17 January 1964) was an English Author best known for his sequence of Arthurian The Once and Future King is an Arthurian Fantasy novel written by T The plot in French entomologist and writer Bernard Werber's science-fiction novel Les Fourmis is divided between the worlds of ants and humans, ants and their behaviour being described using contemporary scientific knowledge. Bernard Werber (born September 18, 1961 in Toulouse) is a French Science fiction writer active since the 1990s Les Fourmis trilogy is a three-part novel series by French novelist Bernard Werber. In more recent times, animated cartoons and 3D animated movies featuring ants have been produced include Antz, A Bug's Life, The Ant Bully, The Ant and the Aardvark , Atom Ant, and there is a comic book superhero called Ant-Man. Antz is a 1998 computer-animated Film produced by DreamWorks. A Bug's Life is a 1998 CGI-animated Film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Buena Vista Distribution in the The Ant Bully (ISBN 0590395912 is a 1999 Children's book drawn and written by John Nickle The Ant and the Aardvark was a series of theatrical short cartoons produced at DePatie-Freleng Enterprises from 1969 to 1971 Atom Ant is a Cartoon Ant and Superhero, created by Hanna-Barbera in 1965 A comic book (often shortened to simply comic and sometimes called a comic paper or comic magazine) is a Magazine or Book of narrative Ant-Man is a Marvel Comics Superhero Comic book character that was originally created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1962
From the late 1950s through the late 1970s, ant farms were popular educational children's toys in the United States. In the early 1990s, the video game SimAnt, which simulated an ant colony, won the 1992 Codie award for "Best Simulation Program". SimAnt is a 1991 life simulation Computer game by Maxis focusing on Ants It was designed by Will Wright The CODiE awards is a yearly award issued by the Software and Information Industry Association for excellence in Software development the software industry [116]
Ants are also quite popular as the inspiration for many science-fiction creatures, such as the Formics of Ender's Game, the Bugs of Starship Troopers, and the giant ants in the film Them!. Ender's Game (1985 is one of the best-known novels by Orson Scott Card. Starship Troopers is a Science fiction Novel by Robert A Heinlein, first published (in abridged form as a serial in The Magazine For the films of the same name see Them (2006 film or Them (film In strategy games, ant-based species often benefit from increased production rates due to their single-minded focus, such as the Klackons in the Master of Orion series of games or the ChCht in Deadlock II. A strategy game is a Game (eg computer, video or Board game) in which the players' decision-making skills have a high significance Master of Orion ( MoO or MOO) is a Turn-based, 4X Science fiction Computer strategy game Deadlock II Shrine Wars is a Sci-fi Turn-based strategy Computer game developed by Cyberlore Studios These characters are often credited with a hive mind, a common misconception about ant colonies. A group mind or group ego in science fiction is a single consciousness occupying many bodies
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General references
- Bolton, Barry (1995). A New General Catalogue of the Ants of the World. Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674615144.
- Borror, Donald J. , Charles A. Triplehorn & Dwight M. Delong (1989). Introduction to the Study of Insects, 6th Edition. Saunders College Publishing. ISBN 0030253977.
- Hölldobler, B. & E. O. Wilson (1998). Journey to the Ants: A Story of Scientific Exploration. Belknap Press. ISBN 0674485262.
- Hölldobler, B. & E. O. Wilson (1990). The Ants. Harvard University Press. Harvard University Press ( HUP) is a Publishing house, a division of Harvard University, that is highly respected in Academic publishing. ISBN 0674040759.
External links
General
- Antweb from The California Academy of Sciences
- AntBase - a taxonomic database with literature sources
- Discover Life— images, information and links
- Antnest—keeping ants
Pest management
- National Pesticide Information Center
- Ant management
- Control of House Ants, University of North Texas
Images
Regional
Dictionary
ant
-noun
- Any of various insects in the family Formicidae in the order Hymenoptera, typically living in large colonies composed almost entirely of flightless females.
Ant
-proper noun
- A diminutive of the male given name Anthony.
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