Are All Ants the Same Size?

Depending on the species, ants vary in size from a tiny speck to an entire colony. They can be found in different sizes and shapes, and there are more than 13,000 species worldwide.

The largest ant known to have ever lived was discovered in fossilized remains in Wyoming, USA. It is estimated to have lived 50 million years ago. The largest ant species, the bull ant, prefers warm countries.

Other species have more than one size, called minors. The African ant is one of the smallest species, but it is still very large. The average African ant is 0.98 inches (2.5 cm) long.

The brown fire ant is a relatively small ant. It is often seen along sidewalks, tree trunks, and even inside walls. It is also known as the pharaoh ant. Its body is dark brown to black, but its wings are lighter. It does not sting.

The odorous house ant, also known as the pavement ant, nests under loose bark on trees, under siding on homes, or under objects in the yard. It has a single queen and has light antennae with parallel furrows. It has three body regions: the thorax, abdomen, and legs.

Its legs are two to three mm long. The outer pair of jaws is used for digging and carrying objects. The inner pair is used for chewing.

Carpenter ants are one of the largest species in North America. The ant body is black or reddish. It has long, brownish-golden hairs on the abdomen.