For every human on Earth, there are 1.6 million ants!

Did you know that for every human on Earth, there are 1.6 million ants?  In fact, ants are found on every continent except Antarctica!  There are over 12,500 identified ant species in black, red, green, and metallic colors.

Ant colonies can contain less than 100 ants up to millions.  They are social insects that work together to support the group while solving problems.  They have lived on Earth for over 100 million years and make up to 25% of the total biomass weight of land animals.

Out of all the ants, the Queen ant can live up to 30 years. Worker ants can live up to 3 years, while the drones only live a couple of weeks.  Both the Queen and male drones have wings and mate with each other; the Queen is in charge of each ant colony and can lay thousands of eggs. Non-reproducing female ants build the nest, find food, guard the ant nest from enemies, and care for the Queen and the offspring.

Some ants can swim and most can survive underwater for 24 hours.  In large ant colonies, ants can survive a flood by linking their bodies together in an intricate, floating raft.  This raft of ants can stay afloat on the water for a long time.

Fire ants cause an estimated 5 billion dollars of damage in the United States each year by damaging irrigation equipment, agricultural machinery, and crops.  Their bites can cause allergic reactions and hurt a lot.

A closeup of an ant with its mandibles wide open!

Some other interesting ant facts:

• In many parts of the world, ants are considered a delicacy by humans; some ants are roasted and others are dipped in chocolate.

• Ants do not have ears; instead, they feel the vibrations from the ground with special sensors on their feet and knees.

• Some Amazon ants will participate in special enemy warfare by surrounding the ant colony and waiting for days for their adversaries to leave the nest.  Since the enemy ants cannot leave their nests to forage for food, they emerge from the ant colony days later in a weakened state, quickly defeated by the Amazon ants.

• There are 250,000 brain cells in the brain of the ant; therefore, the ant is considered to be the smartest out of all of the insects.  In comparison, humans have 10 billion brain cells!  An colony of 40,000 ants will equal the brain size of the human being.

• South American tribes will test the rite of passage of the young male tribe member by placing bullet ants into specially designed gloves and have these men wear them for an extended amount of time.  The bullet ant mercilessly stings the victim’s hands hundreds of times.  The suffering young male screams out in agony while enduring this torturing ritual.

• Ants help with the decomposition of the soil and move more soil than Earthworms; in fact, an ant colony can move more than 20 pounds of soil a day!

• The largest ant colony is close to 4,000 miles in length and contains more than 1 billion ants.