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Ants are social insects that live in organised colonies. They are found across the world, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Moreover, ants play an important role in our ecosystem and the food web. While some ant species are commonly found around our house or playgrounds, some ant species are invasive and may harm your crops and plants. Are you surprised how such a small insect can do such great damage? Here are 20 other interesting and cool facts about ants for students.
Amazing Facts About Ants
1. Ants might be as old as dinosaurs.
2. There are over 12,000 different species of ants in the world.
3. Ants are found across all continents except Antarctica.
4. The largest known ant species is 2.4 inches long. However, they are no longer alive and were found as fossils.
5. Ants are social insects which live in colonies, made up of one or more egg-laying queens and worker ants.
6. Ants display polyethism, where members of the colony are engaged in specific tasks according to their physical abilities.
7. Worker ants are unable to have babies. Therefore, when their queen dies, the colony might also die a few months later.
8. Ants have superhuman strength. They can carry 50 times their own weight.
9. Ants don’t have lungs. Air enters and leaves through tiny holes known as spiracles present on the sides of their body.
10. Ants leave a pheromone trail everywhere they go to keep track and trace their paths.
11. Usually found in tropical rainforests, the bullet ants are said to have the most painful sting in the world.
12. The trap-jaw ant species of ants can close its jaws at 140mph.
13. North America’s fire ants’ painful bite causes a burning sensation. They also cause great damage to crops.
14. The queen of the Pogonomyrmex Owyheei species can live up to 30 years.
15. Male ants are developed from unfertilised eggs. They are also called drones and are fertile to mate with the queen.
16. Ants don’t have ears and use vibrations from the ground through their feet.
17. Ant species which don’t have eyes communicate using their antennae.
18. Ants have two stomachs. One stomach holds food for their consumption whereas the other stomach holds food to be shared with others.
19. Some species of ants engage in farming by cultivating fungi as a food and nutrition source.
20. Ants consume different foods such as insects, nectar, seeds, and fungus.
Hope you had fun reading these interesting facts about ants. If you want to read more interesting facts, you may read this interesting blog 50 Fun Interesting Animal Facts That Will Amaze You!