How Big Are Ants?
WouterDepending on the species, ants can be tiny or huge. There are more than 12,000 different species of ants. In fact, some of them are bigger than houseflies and bed bugs!
The average ant is 3.7 millimeters long. The queen ants of ant colonies are larger, and are responsible for reproducing. They are also responsible for starting new colonies. The colony can contain hundreds of thousands of individual ants.
Depending on the species, ants are black, brown, or red. They have an exoskeleton made of chitin, which is not flexible. They have modified anterior appendages that function as mandibles, which are used to chew and grasp food.
Workers of ant colonies are called major and minor workers. Minor workers are small, reddish brown ants, while major workers are larger. The front half of the major’s head is sculptured, while the back half is smooth.
The largest species of ants is the Titanomyrma giganteum. The queens of the colony are approximately 6 centimeters long, and the wingspan is 15 centimeters. This species is found only in South America. It can be seen in rainforests. The queen ants are specialist and do not tell the workers what to do.
In addition to eating insects, they are also predators of glasswing butterflies. They have a poison called poneratoxin. They can cause pain and paralysis. They are also known for raiding the nests of other ants.
Carpenter ants can grow up to one inch long. They nest in moist wood, and seek to protect themselves from predators. Their nests are usually made out of wood chips.
