Ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from vespoid wasp ancestors in the Cretaceous period. More than 13,800 of an estimated total of 22,000 species have been classified. They are easily identified by their geniculate (elbowed) antennae and the distinctive node-like structure that forms their slender waists.
Ants form colonies that range in size from a few dozen individuals often living in small natural cavities to highly organised colonies that may occupy large territories with sizeable nest that consist of millions of individuals or into the hundreds of millions in super colonies. Typical colonies consist of various castes of sterile, wingless females, most of which are workers (ergates), as well as soldiers (dinergates) and other specialised groups. Nearly all ant colonies also have some fertile males called "drones" and one or more fertile females called "queens" (gynes). The colonies are described as superorganisms because the ants appear to operate as a unified entity, collectively working together to support the colony.
Ants have colonised almost every landmass on Earth. The only places lacking indigenous ants are Antarctica and a few remote or inhospitable islands. Ants thrive in moist tropical ecosystems and may exceed the combined biomass of wild birds and mammals. Their success in so many environments has been attributed to their social organisation and their ability to modify habitats, tap resources, and defend themselves. Their long co-evolution with other species has led to mimetic, commensal, parasitic, and mutualistic relationships.
Ant societies have division of labour, communication between individuals, and an ability to solve complex problems. These parallels with human societies have long been an inspiration and subject of study. Many human cultures make use of ants in cuisine, medication, and rites. Some species are valued in their role as biological pest control agents. Their ability to exploit resources may bring ants into conflict with humans, however, as they can damage crops and invade buildings. Some species, such as the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) of South America, are regarded as invasive species in other parts of the world, establishing themselves in areas where they have been introduced accidentally.
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Non-native ants are breaking down biogeographic boundaries and homogenizing community assemblages
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How 16th Century Trade Made Fire Ants an Early Global Invader
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ANT GENERAL
Ants are famous for getting things done, right? But how do the get anything done without a strict hierarchy, without a foreman to give orders, without a little ant king and tiny ant knights to get those lazy bastards to work?
When one ant is far away from the colony, and comes across something worth carrying back, it begins to pull it, and gives off a recruitment pheromone in the effort. Others smell that pheromone, and they come to help, because that's what they do. Now, the individual who has come to the task second begins to pull, and the first ant is now pushing. Soon there are many ants involved, and still only one ant is pulling. Every other ant pushes in the direction of the most recent individual to have joined the task, who pulls. This is likely because the newest individual has the most up to date information about where the colony is in relation to the object being carried, and so with each new ant that joins the task, the direction becomes more accurate.
Picture it like you and a few friends trying to carry a couch inside but you are blindfolded. Someone new joins and starts pulling, and you all just go with the direction that new guy is going. Simple as.
(I will dump more ant lore before this general closes)
Yummy ant facts