What Are Ants?
WouterAmong the many insects that live on Earth, ants are one of the most social species. They live in colonies, or “armies.” Colonies are large groups of ants that do specific tasks together. These tasks include foraging for food, caring for the queen, and laying eggs.
The most common species of ants are the Argentine ants, which can move across thousands of kilometers of land mass. These ants have large, flexible bodies with large, elastic abdomens. They also have antennae that detect chemicals. They use vibration to communicate in certain situations.
Ant colonies can have millions of members. They live in large groups called colonies, or “armies.” They can live in single queen colonies or supercolonies. They can be found throughout the world.
A colony of ants consists of a queen ant and many worker ants. The queen spends most of her life laying eggs. The worker ants take care of the queen and brood. They do other duties depending on their age.
Workers are female ants born inside the colony. They are responsible for foraging food, caring for the queen, and bringing food back to the colony. They leave an invisible trail of food. They can lift objects up to a few times their own weight.
Depending on the species, an ant colony can reach several hundred million ants. There are even supercolonies, which can contain up to a million queen ants. Supercolonies are found in Japan, Australia, and Southern Europe.
