What are ants: the variety of species never ceases to amaze

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Nature has created unusual insects - ants. Little insects are distinguished by great diligence. Some of them are beneficial. However, some are capable of wreaking havoc in gardens. Each species has its own structural features, color, habits.

Description and role of the insect

While varieties may differ in dietary, lifestyle, and appearance preferences, there is one thing they all have in common. These intelligent insects live in an organized colony in which each member has a role to play.

Ants are very difficult to count. The number of individuals is constantly changing, new ones appear, and some die. They by their activity benefit:

  • loosen the soil;
  • carry seeds;
  • enrich the soil.

Variety of species

According to various estimates, about 300 species of insects live in Russia. But ants are not so easy to miscalculate, they are constantly changing and hybrids appear. Among those living in other countries and continents, there are many unusual individuals.

Pharaohs ant
Workers are yellow in color. Wings are missing. The females are yellow-brown and the males are black. The males have wings. The size of males is about 3,5 mm, and females - up to 4,5 mm. Insects prefer dark, damp places. The main difference from relatives is mating in nests. This is a species of ants that lives in apartments and houses. Parasites often live in household appliances and behind wallpaper. They feed on food waste, wool, and skin. Ants are dangerous because they can infect with polio.
Meadow ant
The size of the insect can be from 5 to 13 mm. Color red. On the body of males there are red hairs. The chest is decorated with a black spot. Insects are not afraid of cold weather. Habitats - meadows, glades, edges of European countries. The diet consists of honeydew (sweet secretions of aphids) and the remains of dead insects. The larvae eat live insects. One anthill can consist of 50-70 thousand individuals. They are not dangerous to people. In rare cases, an allergic reaction occurs from a bite.
Reaper Ant
This variety prefers arid hot climates. The size varies between 4-16 mm. The family has up to 5000 individuals, one queen, several unfertilized females. The anthill can be placed in the soil at a depth of several meters. Such places on the surface are characterized by a small mound. The diet consists of grains and dry fruits of plants. They feed only on fallen seeds, without harming the crop.
Red Forest Ant
Insects live in the northern latitudes of Eurasia. The size of individuals is from 7 to 14 mm. Coloration red-brown. The secretion of acidic ant poison comes from a gland located on the belly. Ants feed on plant debris, honeydew, and various insects. Thanks to them, plants settle in new territories. Insects also prevent excessive reproduction of pests. This species is listed in the Red Book.
black garden ant
The most common variety in Russia. Also lives in Asia, Europe, North America. Size from 3 to 5 mm. The uterus can reach 1 cm in length. Coloring can be from dark brown to black. The diet of insects consists of sweet secretions, living and dead insects, fruits and nectar. Black garden ants can be safely called pests, as their companions are aphids and mealybugs. The bite is painful to humans, but harmless.
wood borer ant
The second name is camponotus. There are about 1000 varieties. They live all over the globe. Nesting sites are stumps and live trees. Although you can meet them even in the desert. The type of insect affects the color and size. Pests are dangerous for forests and log houses. Insects are engaged in nibbling young buds and wood. From log cabins, wooden beams, furniture, building materials, dust is obtained.
Amazon ant
Habitats - the north of Eurasia and North America. In Russia, the Amazons settled in Siberia, the Far East and the south of the country. The size of ants reaches 10 mm. The color varies from red to dark brown and black. For people, they do not pose a danger. The difference of this species is the absence of working individuals. This disadvantage is compensated by the abduction of someone else's offspring. Usually the meadow or forest variety becomes the victims. The organization of the new colony is also unusual. The fertilized female takes over the anthill, killing the queen and taking her place.
Bulldog Ant
The name comes from the fact that insects have characteristic jaws. Habitat - Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. Bulldogs have large bulging eyes. The body size reaches 30 mm. Coloring can be black, brown, bright red, orange. Insects can jump, which is quite rare among relatives. They eat wasps and bees. Ants will not refuse to feast on the sweet juice of plants. Bites cause severe pain that disappears within a week. In rare cases, a severe allergic reaction can be fatal.
leaf cutter ant
Body size up to 2 cm. Habitats - the southern part of the USA and North America. They grow mushrooms in anthills. The name is due to the tendency to cut leaves and flowers, followed by transfer to the nest. Bites are harmless to humans. Allergy sufferers may experience individual reactions and redness. In gardens, the appearance of leaf cutters is a huge problem. For a day, pests are able to cut off all the flowers and leaves.
Ant bullet
The most dangerous species among all the rest. The venom is highly toxic and causes acute pain, reminiscent of the sensation of a bullet wound. The pain persists for 24 hours. Habitats - humid and tropical forests of South and Central America. Body length from 1,8 to 2,5 cm. Color brown-black. The diet consists of live and dead insects, small vertebrates. Ants are able to attack a person in case of a threat to life.
Red fire ant
The poison is not inferior in toxicity to the poison of bullet ants. The bite causes a burning sensation. Initially, this species was only seen in Brazil. At the moment, the habitats are Australia, New Zealand, China, USA. Body length from 2 to 6 mm. Coloration reddish brown. They feed on animals and plants. Ants are very aggressive. They are capable of destroying most of the living beings.
army ant soldier
This species is called nomadic. Habitats - the basin of Africa, Asia and the Amazon. The body length reaches 15 mm. Coloration dark red. The uterus of the army ant-soldier has the largest size - 5 cm. The name is associated with the peculiarities of behavior - the absence of permanent nests. They move around all the time, stopping only to mate. The spherical building consists of bodies that are interlocked with the help of jaws. Insects are a danger to people and large animals. They are blind and attack everyone indiscriminately. They can tear a horse apart.
honey ant
A feature of the species is the ability to store large reserves of honeydew and juice in the belly. This allows them to survive in deserts and semi-deserts. One colony contains from 100 to several million ants, controlled by a queen. About 1000 kg of honey can be squeezed out of 0,4 insects.
yellow crazy ant
The name is associated with the chaotic behavior of the insect. Body length does not exceed 4 mm. Coloration yellow-brown. Africa is considered its homeland. However, now ants live on the islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Insects tend to unite supercolonies into a federation. Each component has its own workers and a uterus. But there is no competition between them. They tend to cooperate and help in the capture of new territories.

Conclusion

To date, scientists have studied about 4000 varieties of ants. In Russia, there are 260 species. Each species is unique and unique. Most ants are completely harmless. But a meeting with some can lead to serious consequences and even death.

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