Ants have existed on Earth for more than 100 million years, sharing space with dinosaurs. Thriving in highly organized colonies worldwide—mainly tropical and subtropical regions
they play an essential role in our ecosystem and its balance. Ant facts disprove numerous misconceptions while providing us with new insight into this fascinating creature’s existence.
Are you fascinated by ants? We’ve gathered some incredible facts about them, shedding light on their distinct features and resilience.
10 Unmissable Facts About Ants
1: There Are Over 12,000 Ants Species Worldwide
Earth is estimated to host 20 quadrillion ants or roughly 2.5 million for every person on it. There are 12,000 known species, and each may play a unique ecological role.
Fire ants use their stingers to deliver solenopsin venom when protecting themselves, while the Pheidole dragon, newly discovered in South America, features spines on its exoskeleton. Allomerus decemarticulatus from Amazonia shows outstanding cooperation by building intricate plant fiber traps. Another notable species, Yellow Crazy Ants, form vast supercolonies housing hundreds or even thousands of queens – providing ample defenses against threats like predatory insects or disease outbreaks.
2: Ants Don’t Have Ears
Ants may lack external structures for hearing, yet this doesn’t limit them. Instead of using auditory canals for hearing purposes, ants detect vibrations in their environment to sense sounds and detect sounds through vibratory perception.
Specialized sensors located on their feet and knees enable these animals to interpret vibrational signals from their environment. At the same time, antennae and body hairs feature specializations that aid them when foraging for food.
3: Ants Don’t Have Lungs
Ants don’t possess lungs like mammals do—they are too small even for complex respiratory systems! Instead, they use an efficient method for transporting air between their colonies.
Ants’ respiratory systems consist of an intricate network of tracheal tubes connected to small openings on their body surface known as spiracles, where oxygen enters. From there, it travels along tracheae through which all parts of their bodies receive it – even cramped spaces and underground tunnels! Ants utilize intricate breathing systems so as not to succumb to stress during intense physical exertion, such as climbing.
4: Ants Can Lift 50 Times Their Body Weight
Ants possess incredible strength; some species can carry objects 50 times their body weight! Their secret lies in their small size compared to larger animals: Their muscles have proportionally thicker muscle structures, which allows them to handle loads far heavier than themselves.
5: The Queen Ant Lays Eggs, Maintaining the Colony’s Population
Queen ant colonies play an essential part in maintaining their population by laying eggs that will ensure their continued existence.
Queen ants typically tend to be larger than worker ants, with long abdomens designed for egg production and storage. Their most distinctive characteristic is an advanced reproductive system, which enables them to lay eggs consistently throughout their lives.
6: Ants Have the Longest Lifespan of Any Insect
Ants exhibit extraordinary variation in lifespan, with some species living only weeks at a time and others lasting several years or even decades, Queen ants are exceptionally long-lived.
Queen ants may live for decades – up to approximately 30. The longest recorded adult lifespan for one Lasius niger queen ant was 28 3/4 years in captivity.
7: Ants Are Social Insects That Reside in Colonies
Ants live in complex social colonies where groups of them cohabit for growth and survival.
An ant colony comprises many distinct kinds of ants, each with its role and purpose: queen ants are responsible for reproduction, while worker and soldier ants help care for offspring produced by the queen and protect it against threats to its existence.
8: The Bullet Ant Has the World’s Most Painful Sting
Bullet ants are well known for their excruciating sting. They are found throughout South and Central American tropical rainforests, including Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil, where they make themselves at home among lush foliage.
Bullet ants tend to be nonaggressive insects but will sting when provoked. They emit chemicals that trigger nearby ants to join in their attack by releasing toxic molecules that signal their colleagues to join in the stinging action.
The bullet ant has numerous names throughout South America; in Venezuela, it is commonly referred to as a 24-Hour Ant due to the pain it inflicts, while Brazil calls it Big Black Ant—all names that translate directly to “Deeper Wonder.” All names translate directly to respect and fear from being intimately familiar with the potency of attack.
9: Ants Have Two Stomachs
One of the many fascinating facts about ants is their incredible adaptation: two stomachs to increase survival.
- Their first stomach, known as the crop, stores food for other colony members to share.
- This second stomach, known as the gaster, handles digestion and absorption of nutrients necessary for survival.
These dual stomach systems enable these tiny titans of foraging to forage for food while dispersing seeds across their environment and increasing soil aeration rates. This evolutionary adaptation also has significant ecological ramifications, such as seed dispersion or soil aeration processes.
10: Ants Are Found on Every Continent Except Antarctica
Ants can be found across most regions in the world, with the exception of Antarctica, Iceland, and Greenland; their presence cannot survive extreme cold. Antarctica presents unsuitable environments for these insects due to freezing temperatures, which make survival an obstacle.
Conclusion
Ants, tiny creatures with no ears or lungs, are known for their incredible strength. From building supercolonies to setting traps made out of plant fibers, their intricate social structures and behaviors demonstrate their ecological relevance. By understanding ants better, you not only gain an appreciation of their incredible adaptations but also gain more knowledge of how nature operates!
FAQs
What are 5 facts about ants?
- There are over 12,000 species of ants worldwide.
- Ants lack ears and lungs.
- Ants can lift 50 times their body weight without strain.
- Ants possess two stomachs!
How many days do ants live?
Ant life spans differ widely depending on the species. Some may only last several days, while others can live for decades or even centuries! For instance, fire ants typically live 30-60 days, while carpenter ants (with longer lifespans) last 45-90 days. Queen ants can even outlive these estimates with 28-30-year lifespans.
Can ants live without a queen?
Yes, an ant colony can survive for months without its queen; however, its longevity will likely be limited since workers cannot reproduce to replenish the colony’s numbers.
How big can ants get?
Female ants may reach 1.5 inches long; one species, Titanomyrma lubei, was ever recorded to get two inches long!
What is the largest ant to ever exist?
Titanomyrma lubei (2 inches in length) holds the record as the world’s biggest-ever living ant.