I think ants are wonderful creatures. Naturalist Edward O. Wilson, one of the world’s top authorities on ants, estimates that there are 10 thousand trillion ants on the planet. Their combined weight is greater than the combined weight of all humans. They are one of the “little things” that run the world. For insects, ants have large brains. Biologists classify ants in the order Hymenoptera, which includes wasps and bees.
There are more than 10,000 known species of ants. Ants are social insects. Each ant colony has one or more queens that lay eggs. Worker ants are sterile female ants. They care for the queen and her eggs. During the day, worker ants move the eggs and larvae of the colony to the top of the nest for warmth. If a worker ant has found a good source for food, it leaves a trail of scent so that other ants in the colony can find the food.
Beneficial ants
Ants can be warriors, architects, farmers and more. They are extremely beneficial in the landscape. They scavenge for food and prey on potential pests. They can feed on caterpillars, aphids and small bugs. They serve as food for birds, dragonflies and spiders. Many ants make extensive tunnel systems that increase air and water penetration in the soil.
Native ants often compete for resources with fire ants. They attack fire ant queens trying to establish new colonies and invade weakened fire ant colonies. Preserving and encouraging native ant species is considered the best defense against imported fire ants.