Ants Fossil range: Cretaceous - Recent
Meat eater ant feeding on honey
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Hymenoptera Suborder: Apocrita Superfamily: Vespoidea Family: Formicidae Latreille, 1809
Subfamilies
Aenictogitoninae Agroecomyrmecinae Amblyoponinae (incl. "Apomyrminae") Aneuretinae Cerapachyinae Dolichoderinae Ecitoninae (incl. "Dorylinae" and "Aenictinae") Ectatomminae Formicinae Heteroponerinae Leptanillinae Leptanilloidinae Myrmeciinae (incl. "Nothomyrmeciinae") Myrmicinae Paraponerinae Ponerinae Proceratiinae Pseudomyrmecinae

Ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related families of wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. They are a diverse group of more than 12,000 species, with a higher diversity in the tropics. They are known for their highly organized colonies and nests, which sometimes consist of millions of individuals. Individuals are divided into sub-fertile, and more commonly sterile, females ("workers"), fertile males ("drones"), and fertile females ("queens"). 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. Ant, Ants, or ANT can refer to: In engineering, science, and technology Ant, insect The Ants, a scientific book about ants Antlia (constellation), standard astronomical abbreviation ANT, an early airplane series produced by Tupolev design bureau in the Soviet Union Ants (computer game), a computer game for the (obsolescent) Amiga... // The Cretaceous Period is one of the major divisions of the geologic timescale, reaching from the end of the Jurassic Period (i. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1600x1067, 211 KB) Meat Eater Ant feeding on honey If you are a (commercial) publisher and you want me to write you an email or paper mail giving you an authorization to use my works in your products or a license... Binomial name Iridomyrmex golbachi Smith, 1858 Meat ants (Iridomyrmex purpureus), also known as meat-eater ants or gravel ants, are a species of ant belonging to the Iridomyrmex genus. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Subphyla and Classes Subphylum Trilobitomorpha Trilobita - trilobites (extinct) Subphylum Chelicerata Arachnida - spiders,scorpions, etc. ... Orders Subclass Apterygota Archaeognatha (bristletails) Thysanura (silverfish) Subclass Pterygota Infraclass Paleoptera (Probably paraphyletic) Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass Neoptera Superorder Exopterygota Grylloblattodea (ice-crawlers) Mantophasmatodea (gladiators) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Embioptera (webspinners) Zoraptera (angel insects) Dermaptera (earwigs) Orthoptera (grasshoppers, etc) Phasmatodea (stick insects) Blattodea (cockroaches) Isoptera (termites) Mantodea (mantids) Psocoptera... Suborders Apocrita Symphyta Hymenoptera is one of the larger orders of insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. ... Superfamilies Apoidea Ceraphronoidea Chalcidoidea Chrysidoidea Cynipoidea Evanioidea Ichneumonoidea Megalyroidea Proctotrupoidea Sphecoidea Stephanoidea Triganalyoidea Vespoidea Many families, see article Apocrita is a suborder of insects in the order Hymenoptera. ... Vespoidea is a Superfamily of Order Hymenoptera of Class Insecta, although other taxonomic schemes may vary in this categorization. ... Pierre André Latreille. ... Species 7 species Aenictogitoninae is a very small subfamily of ants, containing 7 species in the monotypic genus Aenictogiton. ... Genera Amyrmex Anillidris Anonychomyrma Axinidris Azteca Bothriomyrmex Doleromyrma Dolichoderus Dorymyrmex Ecphorella Forelius Froggattella Iridomyrmex Leptomyrmex Linepithema Liometopum Loweriella Ochetellus Papyrius Philidris Tapinoma Technomyrmex Turneria Dolichoderinae is a subfamily of ants, which includes species such as the Erratic Ant. ... Tribes Cheliomyrmecini Dorylini (incl. ... Tribes Aenictini Aenictogetini Dorylini probably a lot more The Dorylinae is an old-world subfamily of the Formicidae commonly referred to as Driver ants or siafu. ... Species See article. ... Tribes, Genera and Species Species: Formica rufa Genus: Camponotus(World-wide) Formica, Lasius(Holartic) Gigantiops(Neotropical) Polyrhachis(Asian, African tropics) Melophorus(Australian) Kyromyrma(Cretaceous fossil) Tribes: Camponotini Formicini Gesomyrmecini Gigantiopini Lasiini Melophorini Myrmecorhynchini Myrmoteratini Notostigmatini Oecophyllini Plagiolepidini The Formicinae is a subfamily within the Formicidae containing ants of moderate evolutionary... The Myrmeciinae is a subfamily of the Formicidae. ... Binomial name Nothomyrmecia macrops Clark, 1951 Nothomyrmecia macrops, sometimes called Dinosaur ants, is the only known species of the genus (originally placed in its own subfamily Nothomyrmeciinae, though this is not recognized in modern classifications), and are found in the cool regions of the mallee of southern South Australia and... Tribes Basicerotini Dacetini Phalacromyrmecini Cephalotini Attini Blepharidattini Stenammini Solenopsidini Myrmicini Tetramoriini Pheidolini Crematogastrini Meranoplini Formicoxenini Melissotarsini Myrmecinini The Myrmicinae are a subfamily of Ants. ... Genera Paraponera Paraponerinae is a subfamily of ants in the Poneromorph subfamilies group. ... This article is in need of attention. ... Binomial name Pseudomyrmex spinicola Emery, 1890 Pseudomyrmex spinicola is a species of red myrmecophyte-inhabitating neotropical ants which are found only in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. ... Eusociality is the phenomenon of reproductive specialisation found in some species of animal, whereby a specialised caste carries out reproduction in a colony of non-reproductive animals. ... Orders Subclass Apterygota Archaeognatha (bristletails) Thysanura (silverfish) Subclass Pterygota Infraclass Paleoptera (Probably paraphyletic) Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass Neoptera Superorder Exopterygota Grylloblattodea (ice-crawlers) Mantophasmatodea (gladiators) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Embioptera (webspinners) Zoraptera (angel insects) Dermaptera (earwigs) Orthoptera (grasshoppers, etc) Phasmatodea (stick insects) Blattodea (cockroaches) Isoptera (termites) Mantodea (mantids) Psocoptera... For other uses, see Wasp (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Western honey bee and Bee (disambiguation). ... Suborders Apocrita Symphyta Hymenoptera is one of the larger orders of insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. ... The following is a thusfar incomplete list of worldwide ant genera. ... The tropics are the geographic region of the Earth centered on the equator and limited in latitude by the two tropics: the Tropic of Cancer in the north and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere. ... This is a biological article: For a territory administered by another territory see: Colony For a group attempting to affiliate with a Fraternity or Sorority see: Colony (fraternity) In biology, a colony (from Latin colonia) refers to several individual organisms of the same species living closely together, usually for mutual... A fertilized queen ant excavating a hole for her new colony. ... Ant colony in Pirin mountain An ant colony is an underground lair where ants live. ... A group of organisms, such as an insect colony, that functions as a social unit. ... An entity is something that has a distinct, separate existence, though it need not be a material existence. ...

Ants have colonized almost every landmass on Earth. The only places lacking indigenous ant species are Antarctica, Greenland, Iceland, parts of Polynesia, the Hawaiian Islands, and other remote or inhospitable islands.^[1][2] When all their individual contributions are added up, they may constitute up to 15 to 25% of the total terrestrial animal biomass.^[3] This article is about Earth as a planet. ... Carving from the ridgepole of a Māori house, ca 1840 Polynesia (from Greek: πολύς many, νῆσος island) is a large grouping of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. ... Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area  Ranked 43rd  - Total 10,931 sq mi (29,311 km²)  - Width n/a miles (n/a km)  - Length 1,522 miles (2,450 km)  - % water 41. ... An Antarctic krill, whose species comprises roughly 0. ...

Termites, sometimes called white ants, are not closely related to ants, although they have similar social structures. Velvet ants, although resembling large ants, are wingless female wasps. Families Mastotermitidae Kalotermitidae Termopsidae Hodotermitidae Rhinotermitidae Serritermitidae Termitidae Wikispecies has information related to: Isoptera Termites, sometimes known as white ants, are a group of social insects usually classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera. ... Subfamilies Mutillinae Myrmillinae Myrmosinae Pseudophotopsidinae Rhopalomutillinae Sphaeropthalminae Ticoplinae Mutillidae or velvet ants, also known as cow killers, are not actually ants but a type of wasp. ... For other uses, see Wasp (disambiguation). ...

Evolution

A few ants in Baltic Amber

The Formicidae family belongs to the order Hymenoptera, which also includes sawflies, bees and wasps. Ants are a lineage derived from within the vespoid wasps. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that ants evolved from vespoids in the mid-Cretaceous period about 120 to 170 million years ago. After the rise of angiosperm plants about 100 million years ago, they diversified and assumed ecological dominance about 60 million years ago.^[4][5][6] Several fossils from the Cretaceous are intermediate in form between wasps and ants, adding further evidence for wasp ancestry. Like other Hymenoptera, the genetic system found in ants is haplodiploidy. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (3072 × 2304 pixel, file size: 3. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (3072 × 2304 pixel, file size: 3. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Suborders Apocrita Symphyta Hymenoptera is one of the larger orders of insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. ... Superfamilies and families Superfamily Cephoidea    Family Cephidae (stem sawflies) Superfamily Megalodontoidea    Family Megalodontesidae    Family Pamphiliidae (leaf-rolling & web-spinning sawflies) Superfamily Orussoidea    Family Orussidae (parasitic wood wasps) Superfamily Siricoidea    Family Anaxyelidae (cedar wood wasps)    Family Siricidae (horntails) Superfamily Tenthredinoidea    Family Argidae (argid sawflies)    Family Blasticotomidae (fern sawflies)    Family Cimbicidae (cimbicid... For other uses, see Western honey bee and Bee (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Wasp (disambiguation). ... Vespoidea is a Superfamily of Order Hymenoptera of Class Insecta, although other taxonomic schemes may vary in this categorization. ... A phylogeny (or phylogenesis) is the origin and evolution of a set of organisms, usually of a species. ... This article is about evolution in biology. ... // The Cretaceous Period is one of the major divisions of the geologic timescale, reaching from the end of the Jurassic Period (i. ... Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants or angiosperms are the most widespread group of land plants. ... For other uses, see Fossil (disambiguation). ... A haplodiploid species is one in which one of the sexes has haploid cells (cells containing one copy of each chromosome) and the other has diploid cells (cells containing two copies of each chromosome). ...

In 1966 E. O. Wilson, et al. obtained the first amber fossil remains of an ant (Sphecomyrma freyi) from the Cretaceous era. The specimen was trapped in amber from New Jersey and is more than 80 million years old. 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.^[7] Edward Osborne Wilson (b. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... “NJ” redirects here. ...

During the Cretaceous era, only a few species of primitive ants ranged widely on the super-continent Laurasia (the northern hemisphere). They were scarce in comparison to other insects (about only 1%). Ants became dominant after adaptive radiation at the beginning of the Tertiary Period. Of the species extant in the Cretaceous and Eocene eras, only 1 of approximately 10 genera is now extinct. 56% of the genera represented on the Baltic amber fossils (early Oligocene), and 96% of the genera represented in the Dominican amber fossils (apparently early Miocene) still survive today.^[4] Laurasia was a supercontinent that most recently existed as a part of the split of the Pangaean supercontinent in the late Mesozoic era. ... Four of the 13 finch species found on the Galápagos Archipelago, and thought to have evolved by an adaptive radiation that diversified their beak shapes to adapt them to different food sources. ... The Tertiary period is one of the major divisions of the geologic timescale, from the end of the Cretaceous period about 64 million years ago to the start of the Quaternary period about 1. ... hfajhfiudshfas == == == --24. ... Population density in the wider Baltic region. ... The Oligocene epoch is a geologic period of time that extends from about 34 million to 23 million years before the present. ... The Miocene Epoch is a period of time that extends from about 23. ...

Morphology

Diagram of a worker ant (Pachycondyla verenae)

This closeup shows the prominent mandibles and the comparatively small compound eyes.

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 distinct node-like a petiole. Ants also have 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). The petiole can be formed by one or two nodes (only the second, or the second and third abdominal segments can form it). Image File history File links Ant_worker_morphology_corrected. ... Image File history File links Ant_worker_morphology_corrected. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Ant_head_closeup. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Ant_head_closeup. ... The term morphology in biology refers to the outward appearance (shape, structure, colour, pattern) of an organism or taxon and its component parts. ... Insects display a wide variety of antennal shapes. ... Metapleural glands (also called metasternal or metathoracic glands) occur only in ants. ... The abdomen (from the Latin word meaning belly) is the part of the body between the pelvis and the thorax. ... The petiole of this ant consists of two segments 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 suborder Apocrita; it may be used to refer to other insects with similar body shapes, where...

Ant bodies, 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 skeletal framework of humans and other vertebrates. Insects do not have lungs, but oxygen and other gases like carbon dioxide pass through their exoskeleton through tiny valves called spiracles. 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 hemolymph towards the head, thus creating some circulation within the internal fluids. 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. An exoskeleton is an external anatomical feature that supports and protects an animals body, in contrast to the internal endoskeleton of, for example, a human. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Human respiratory system The lungs flank the heart and great vessels in the chest cavity. ... General Name, symbol, number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series nonmetals, chalcogens Group, period, block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless (gas) very pale blue (liquid) Standard atomic weight 15. ... Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom. ... Spiracles are small openings on the surface of animals that usually lead to respiratory systems. ... The heart and lungs, from an older edition of Grays Anatomy. ... Hemolymph (or haemolymph) is the blood analogue used by all arthropods and most mollusks that have an open circulatory system. ... The nervous system of an animal coordinates the activity of the muscles, monitors the organs, constructs and also stops input from the senses, and initiates actions. ... The ventral nerve cords make up the nervous system of arthropods. ... GÃ…NGLÃŽÃ… is a 1 man electronic grindcore band from Los Angeles California that began in August of 1999. ...

The three main divisions of the ant body are the head, mesosoma and metasoma or gaster. Scorpion anatomy: 1 = Prosoma; 2 = Mesosoma; 3 = Metasoma The mesosoma is clearly visible on this ant: it is the midlle section, in between the head and the petiole The mesosoma is the middle part of the body, or tagma, of arthropods whose body is composed of three parts, the other... Scorpion anatomy: 1 = Prosoma; 2 = Mesosoma; 3 = Metasoma The metasoma is clearly visible on this ant: it is the posterior section, including the petiole 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...

The head of an ant has many important parts. Ants have compound eyes, similar to flys with numerous tiny lenses attached together enabling them to detect movement very well. They also have three small ocelli on the top of the head, which detect light and dark. Most ants have poor to mediocre eyesight and others are blind altogether. Some ants have exceptional vision though, including Australia's bulldog ant. Also attached are two antennae ("feelers") which are special organs that help ants detect chemicals. The antennae are used in communication, detecting pheromones released by other ants. The antennae are also used as feelers, aiding in their sensory input about what is in front of them. The head also has two strong jaws, the mandibles, used to carry food, manipulate objects, construct nests, and for defense. In some species a small pocket inside the mouth holds food for passing to other ants or their developing larvae. Compound eye of a dragonfly Compound eye of Antarctic krill as imaged by an electron microscope A compound eye is a visual organ found in certain arthropods such as insects and crustaceans. ... For other uses, see Fly (disambiguation) and Flies (disambiguation). ... An ocellus (plural: ocelli) is a type of photoreceptor organ in animals. ... Species aberrans auriventris cephalotes gulosa mandibularis nigrocincta picta pilosula tepperi urens The Myrmeciinae is a subfamily of the Formicidae. ... Insects display a wide variety of antennal shapes. ... Fanning honeybee exposes Nasonov gland (white-at tip of abdomen) releasing pheromone to entice swarm into an empty hive A pheromone is a chemical that triggers an innate behavioural response in another member of the same species. ... Insect mandibles are a pair of appendages near the insect’s mouth. ...

The thorax of the ant is where all six legs are attached. At the end of each leg is a hooked claw that helps ants climb and hang onto things. Most queens and male ants have wings; queens shed the wings after the nuptial flight leaving visible stubs, a distinguishing feature of queens. Wingless queens (ergatoids) and males can also occur. Diagram of a tsetse fly, showing the head, thorax and abdomen The thorax is a division of an animals body that lies between the head and the abdomen. ... An insect leg The arthropod leg is a form of jointed appendage of arthropods, usually used for walking. ... Cat claw A claw is a curved pointed appendage, found at the end of a toe or finger or, in arthropods, of the tarsus. ... A queen is the only female insect in a hive that is fertile and egg laying; for example, a queen bee, wasp, hornet, ant, or termite. ... Wing structure of a dragonfly (family Gomphidae) 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 species. ...

The metasoma (the "abdomen") of the ant houses many important internal organs, including the reproductive organs. Many species of ants have stingers used for subduing prey and defending their nests. Scorpion anatomy: 1 = Prosoma; 2 = Mesosoma; 3 = Metasoma The metasoma is clearly visible on this ant: it is the posterior section, including the petiole 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... It has been suggested that sting (biology) be merged into this article or section. ... Predator and Prey redirect here. ...

Development

Meat eater ant nest during swarming

Fertilized queen ant beginning to dig a new colony

The life of an ant starts with an egg. If the egg is fertilized, the ant will be female (diploid); if not, it will be male (haploid). Ants are holometabolous, and develop by complete metamorphosis, passing through larval and pupal stages (with the pupae being exarate) before they become adults. The larval stage is particularly helpless — for instance it lacks legs entirely – and cannot care for itself. The difference between queens and workers (which are both female), and between different castes of workers when they exist, is determined by the feeding in the larval stage. Food is given to the larvae by a process called trophallaxis in which an ant regurgitates food previously held in its crop for communal storage. This is also how adults distribute food amongst themselves. 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. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1600x1067, 554 KB) Meat eater ant nest swarming. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1600x1067, 554 KB) Meat eater ant nest swarming. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1600x1067, 463 KB) A young meat eater ant queen digging a hole to begin a new colony. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1600x1067, 463 KB) A young meat eater ant queen digging a hole to begin a new colony. ... In most birds and reptiles, an egg (Latin ovum) is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum. ... Diploid (meaning double in Greek) cells have two copies (homologs) of each chromosome (both sex- and non-sex determining chromosomes), usually one from the mother and one from the father. ... Haploid (meaning simple in Greek) cells have only one copy of each chromosome. ... Holometabolism, also called complete metamorphism, is a term applied to insect groups to describe the specific kind of insect development which includes four life stages - as an embryo, a larva, a pupa and an imago. ... A cicada in the process of shedding. ... A larval insect A larva (Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of animal with indirect development, undergoing metamorphosis (for example, insects or amphibians). ... Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) pupa Chrysalis redirects here: for other meanings see Chrysalis (disambiguation). ... Caste systems are traditional, hereditary systems of social restriction and social stratification, enforced by law or common practice, based on endogamy, occupation, economic status, race, ethnicity, // 1555, a race of men, from L. casto chaste, from castus pure, cut off, separated, pp. ... Trophallaxis is the regurgitation of food by one animal for another. ... Regurgitation is the passive flow of stomach contents back into the esophagus and mouth. ...

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 defense of the nest. These changes are 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. In a few ants there are also physical castes — workers come in a spectrum of sizes, called minor, median, and major workers, the latter beginning foraging sooner. Often the larger ants will have disproportionately larger heads, and correspondingly stronger mandibles. Such individuals are sometimes called "soldier" ants because their stronger mandibles make them more effective in fighting other creatures, although they are still in fact worker ants and their "duties" typically do not vary greatly from the minor or median workers. In a few species the median workers have disappeared, creating a sharp divide and clear physical difference between the minors and majors. Insect mandibles are a pair of appendages near the insect’s mouth. ...

Most of the common ant species breed in the same way. Only the queen and breeding females have the ability to mate. Contrary to popular belief, some ant nests have multiple queens. The male ants, called drones, along with the breeding females emerge from pupation with wings (although some species, like army ants, do not produce winged queens), and do nothing throughout their life except eat and mate. At this time, all breeding ants, excluding the 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 afterward. 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 fertilize all future eggs produced. 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. There are over 200 known species of army ant, divided into New World and Old World types. ... A spermatozoon or spermatozoan ( spermatozoa), from the ancient Greek σπέρμα (seed) and (living being) and more commonly known as a sperm cell, is the haploid cell that is the male gamete. ... Nuptial flight is an important phase in the reproduction of most ant species. ...

Ant colonies can be long-lived. The queens themselves can live for up to 30 years, while workers live from 1 to 3 years. Males, however, are more transitory, surviving only a few weeks.^[9]

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 that go into diapause while in others the adults alone pass the winter in a state of reduced activity. This does not happen in the tropics.^[10] Embryonic diapause, in mammals is a condition where pre-implantation blastocysts are maintained in a state of dormancy, often due to environmental cues, until such time as the environment improves. ...

Polymorphism

Myrmecocystus (Honeypot) ants store food to prevent colony famine.

Ants show a wide range of morphological differences between the castes. While in some species, these differences are small, they are large in others. In some ant species there can be several size variants within the worker castes.^[11] Workers cannot mate; however, because of the haplodiploid sex-determination system in ants, workers of a number of species are able to lay unfertilized eggs leading to fully functional haploid males. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 971 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Taken by Greg Hume on 9/17/06. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 971 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Taken by Greg Hume on 9/17/06. ... The Haplodiploid sex-determination system is a system that some Hymenopterans (bees, ants, and wasps), and coleopterans (bark beetles) use to determine the sex of their offspring, and preserve eusociality. ...

A group of ants called honeypot ants, have special workers called repletes who only store food for the rest of the colony, generally becoming immobile with greatly enlarged abdomens. In hot, dry places, like parts of Africa, North America, and Australia they are eaten and considered by some to be a great delicacy. In Australia, they are prized as a type of bushfood and considered a sweetmeat. Honeypot ants are ants which are gorged with food by workers, to the point that their abdomens swell enormously. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... This is a List of delicacies. ... Alice Springs Desert Park, Bush Tucker The word Bushfood refers to any food native to Australia and used as sustenance by the original inhabitants, the Australian Aborigines, although it is sometimes used with the specific connotation of food found in the Outback while living on the land. It is also... A selection of confectioneries The term confectionery refers to food items that are (at least perceptibly) rich in sugar. ...

Behaviour and ecology

Communication

Ant mound holes prevent water from entering the nest during rain.

Ant hole in a flurry of activity during swarming

Ants communicate with each other through chemicals called pheromones, these signal messages are more developed in ant species than in other hymenopterans groups. Like other insects, ants smell with their long and thin antennae that are fairly mobile. The antennae have a distinct elbow joint after an elongated first segment; and since they come in pairs—rather like binocular vision or stereophonic sound equipment—they 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 behavior 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). Home is often located by remembered landmarks in the area and by the position of the sun; ants' compound eyes have specialized cells that detect polarized light, used to determine direction. ^[12][13] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1067, 328 KB) Ant mound File links The following pages link to this file: Ant ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1067, 328 KB) Ant mound File links The following pages link to this file: Ant ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1600x1067, 760 KB) A long exposure (1/4 sec) of an ant hole during swarming time. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1600x1067, 760 KB) A long exposure (1/4 sec) of an ant hole during swarming time. ... Fanning honeybee exposes Nasonov gland (white-at tip of abdomen) releasing pheromone to entice swarm into an empty hive A pheromone is a chemical that triggers an innate behavioural response in another member of the same species. ... Suborders Apocrita Symphyta Many families, see article Hymenoptera is one of the larger orders of Insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. ... Sol redirects here. ...

Ants use pheromones for other purposes as well. 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. To confuse enemies, several ant species use "propaganda pheromones", which cause their enemies to fight amongst themselves.^[14]

Pheromones are also exchanged mixed with food and passed in the trophallaxis, giving the ants information about one another's health and nutrition. Ants can detect what task group (e.g. foraging or nest maintenance) other ants belong to. When the queen stops producing a specific pheromone the workers raise new queens. Trophallaxis is the regurgitation of food by one animal for another. ...

Some ants also produce sounds by stridulation using the gaster segments and also using their mandibles. They may serve to communicate among colony members as well as in interactions with other species.^[15][16][17] Stridulation is the act of producing sound by rubbing together certain body parts. ...

Defense

A weaver ant in fighting position, mandibles wide open

Weaver ants collaborating to dismember a red ant (the two at the extremities are pulling the red ant, while the middle one cuts the red ant until she snaps)

Ants attack others and defend themselves by biting and in many species, stinging, often injecting chemicals like formic 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. They are given the highest rating on the Schmidt Sting Pain Index. Jack jumper ants, Myrmecia pilosula, located in Australia have stings that cause fatality to a small number of people in the population, and cause hospitalizations each year.^[18] A vaccine based on use of the venom extract to develop immunity has been developed.^[19] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2333x1417, 1525 KB) Weaver ant. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2333x1417, 1525 KB) Weaver ant. ... Weaver ants (genus Oecophylla) are social insects belonging to the ant family, known for their communication and nest building behaviour. ... The mandible (from Latin mandibÅ­la, jawbone) or inferior maxillary bone is, together with the maxilla, the largest and strongest bone of the face. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2281x1409, 1476 KB) Weaver ants collaborating to dismember a red ant. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2281x1409, 1476 KB) Weaver ants collaborating to dismember a red ant. ... Formic acid (systematically called methanoic acid) is the simplest carboxylic acid. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Binomial name (Fabricius, 1775) Paraponera is a genus of ant consisting of a single species, the so-called bullet ant (P. clavata), named on account of its powerful and potent sting, which is said to be as painful as being shot with a bullet. ... For other uses, see Central America (disambiguation). ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Schmidt Sting Pain Index or The Justin O. Schmidt Pain Index was created by Justin O. Schmidt, an entomologist. ... Binomial name Myrmecia pilosula F. Smith, 1858 The jack jumper ant, hopper ant or jumper ant, Myrmecia pilosula, is a species of bulldog ant that is native to Australia. ... Binomial name Myrmecia pilosula F. Smith, 1858 The jack jumper ant, hopper ant or jumper ant (Myrmecia pilosula) is a species of bulldog ant that is native to Australia. ...

Fire ants, Solenopsis spp., are unique in having a poison sac containing piperidine alkaloids.^[20] Species More than 280 species and subspecies, see text For the species of fire ant common to the Southern U.S., see Red imported fire ant Fire ants, sometimes referred to as simply red ants, are stinging ants of which there are over 280 species worldwide. ... Species 266, see text Solenopsis is a genus of ant, of which there are 266 species. ... Piperidine is an organic compound with the molecular formula C5H11N. It is a heterocyclic amine with a six-membered ring containing five carbon atoms and one nitrogen atom. ...

Some ants of the genus Odontomachus are equipped with mandibles called trap-jaws. This snap-jaw mechanism, or catapult mechanism, is possible because energy is stored in the large closing muscles. The blow is incredibly fast, about 0.5 ms in the genus Mystrium. Before the strike, the mandibles open wide and are locked in the open position by the labrum, which functions as a latch. 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. Two similar groups are Odontomachus and Dacetini - examples of convergent evolution. Species Odontomachus ruginodis Odontomachus brunneus Odontomachus clarus Odontomachus insularis Odontomachus is a genus of carnivorous ants found in the tropics and subtropics. ... One millisecond is one-thousandth of a second. ... Species Odontomachus ruginodis Odontomachus brunneus Odontomachus clarus Odontomachus insularis Odontomachus is a genus of carnivorous ants found in the tropics and subtropics. ... In evolutionary biology, convergent evolution is the process whereby organisms not closely related, independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches. ...

Apart from defense against larger threats, ants also need to defend their colonies against disease organisms. Some ant workers' role is to maintain the hygiene of the colony and their activities include undertaking or necrophory, the transport of dead nest-mates.^[21] Oleic acid is identified as one compound released by dead ants that triggers undertaking behaviour in Atta mexicana.^[22] This article is about the vocation of a mortician and the death metal band; for the World Wrestling Entertainment superstar, see The Undertaker. ...

The nests are also protected from physical threats such as flooding by elaborate structures at the entrance or special chambers for escaping from flooding. Some arboreal species that live in plant hollows (Phytotelmata) also have behavioural responses to flooding, where the workers drink the water and excrete it outside the nest.^[23]

Learning

While many types of animals can learn behaviors by imitating other animals, ants may be the only group of animals besides primates and some other mammals in which interactive teaching behavior has been observed. Knowledgeable forager ants of the species Temnothorax albipennis directly lead naïve nest-mates to newly discovered food sources by the excruciatingly slow (and time-costly) process of tandem running. The follower thereby obtains knowledge that it would not have, had it not been tutored, and this is at the expense of its nest-mate teacher. Both leader and follower are acutely sensitive to the progress of their partner. For example, the leader slows down when the follower lags too far behind, and speeds up when the follower gets too close, while the follower does the opposite.^[24] Learning is the acquisition and development of memories and behaviors, including skills, knowledge, understanding, values, and wisdom. ... Imitation is an advanced animal behaviour whereby an individual observes anothers behaviour and replicates it itself. ... Families 15, See classification A primate is any member of the biological order Primates, the group that contains all the species commonly related to the lemurs, monkeys, and apes, with the latter category including humans. ... Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of sweat glands, including those that produce milk, and by the presence of: hair, three middle ear bones used in hearing, and a neocortex...

Controlled experiments with colonies of Cerapachys biroi suggest that these ants can specialize based on their previous experience. An entire generation of identical workers was divided into two groups based on how the researchers controlled the outcome of food foraging. 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. One month later, 'workers that previously found prey kept on exploring for food, whereas those who always failed specialized in brood care'^[25]

Nest construction

Main article: Ant colony

Leaf nest of weaver ants, Pamalican, Philippines

While some ants form complex nests and galleries, other species are nomadic and do not build permanent structures. Various species may form subterranean nests or build them on trees. Nests can be found in the ground with craters or mounds around the entrance, under stones or logs, in logs, hollow stems, even acorns. The materials used for construction include soil and plant matter,^[26] and they are highly selective of the nest site; 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.^[27] Ant colony in Pirin mountain An ant colony is an underground lair where ants live. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1536x1057, 821 KB) Nest of weaver ants. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1536x1057, 821 KB) Nest of weaver ants. ... Weaver ants (genus Oecophylla) are social insects belonging to the ant family, known for their communication and nest building behaviour. ... The main beach on the southern shore of Pamalican. ...

Some of the more advanced ants are the army ants and driver ants, from South America and Africa respectively. Unlike most species which have permanent nests, army and driver ants do not form permanent nests, but instead alternate between nomadic stages and stages where the workers form a temporary nest (bivouac) out of their own bodies. Colonies reproduce either through nuptial flights as described above, or by fission, where a group of workers simply dig a new hole and raise new queens. Colony members are distinguished by smell, and other intruders are usually attacked. There are over 200 known species of army ant, divided into New World and Old World types. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Dorylinae. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... A bivouac is a structure formed by migratory army ant and driver ant colonies, where a nest is constructed out of the living ant workers own bodies to protect the queen and larvae, and is later deconstructed as the ants move on. ...

Weaver ants (Oecophylla) build nests in trees by attaching leaves together, first pulling them together with bridges of workers and then sewing them together by pressing silk-producing larvae against them in alternation. Weaver ants (genus Oecophylla) are social insects belonging to the ant family, known for their communication and nest building behaviour. ... Weaver ants (genus Oecophylla) are social insects belonging to the ant family, known for their communication and nest building behaviour. ...

Food cultivation

Main article: Ant-fungus mutualism

Leafcutter ants (Atta and Acromyrmex) feed exclusively on a special fungus that lives only within their colonies. They continually collect leaves which they cut into tiny pieces for the fungus to grow on. There are different sized castes specially suited to finer and finer tasks of cutting and chewing the leaves and tending to the garden. Leaf cutter ants are sensitive enough to adapt to 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 grow the fungus because it produces special structures called gongylidia which are fed on by the ants. They create antibiotics on their exterior surfaces with the aid of symbiotic bacteria, and subsist entirely on this farming of the fungus. Ant-fungus mutualism is a verifiable symbiosis seen in certain ant and fungal species, where ants actively cultivate fungus much like humans farm crops as a food source. ... Genera Acromyrmex Atta Leafcutter ants are social insects found in warmer regions of Central and South America. ... Species Many This article is about the genus of New World ants. ... Subkingdom/Phyla Chytridiomycota Blastocladiomycota Neocallimastigomycota Glomeromycota Zygomycota Dikarya (inc. ... Look up foliage in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Navigation

Desert ants Cataglyphis fortis make use of visual landmarks in combination with other cues to navigate.^[28]

In the absence of visual landmarks, Sahara desert ants have 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, and use this information to find the shortest routes back to their nests.^[29] The Sahara desert ant (Cataglyphis bicolor) is a desert dwelling ant of the genus Cataglyphis. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Locomotion

Ants rafting in a pool

Worker ants generally do not grow wings and reproductive females remove theirs after their mating flights in order to begin their colonies. Therefore, unlike their wasp ancestors, most ants travel by walking. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 646 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Tim J. Patterson, http://www. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 646 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Tim J. Patterson, http://www. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The more cooperative species of ants sometimes form chains to bridge gaps, whether that be over water, underground, or through spaces in arboreal paths. Some species also form floating rafts that help them survive floods. They may also have a role in colonization of islands.^[30]

Harpegnathos saltator, a jumping ant

Some ants are even capable of leaping. A particularly notable species is Jerdon's jumping ant, Harpegnathos saltator. This is achieved by synchronized action of the mid and hind pair of legs.^[31] Image File history File linksMetadata Harpegnathos_saltator. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Harpegnathos_saltator. ... Binomial name Harpegnathos saltator (T. C. Jerdon, 1851) Harpegnathos saltator, sometimes called Jerdons jumping ant is a species of ant found in India. ... Binomial name Harpegnathos saltator (T. C. Jerdon, 1851) Harpegnathos saltator, sometimes called Jerdons jumping ant is a species of ant found in India. ...

Polyrhachis sokolova, a species of ant found in Australian mangrove swamps, can swim and lives in nests that are submerged underwater. They make use of trapped pockets of air in the submerged nests.^[32] This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... Above and below water view at the edge of the mangal. ...

There are several species of gliding ant including Cephalotes atratus. In fact this may be a common trait among most arboreal ants. Ants with this ability are able to direct the direction of their descent while falling.^[33] Gliding ants are arboreal ants of many different genera, each having developed the ability to guide its descent when falling from a tree, in order to land on the trunk before reaching the (potentially flooded, disorienting, or dangerous) ground. ...