Do you know that there are over eleven to twelve thousand types of ants species in the world? Well, it is both exciting and shocking. What we see around us in our daily lives and environment is just about nothing, and a very handful of types of ants. If you are interested in finding all about these species and how they have several kinds and varieties within them, we are doing a round-up on them today!
Today, let us find out all about different types and kinds of ants, their species, varieties, and more here.
All About the Ants Species, Characteristics:
How well do you know about ants? Ants belong to the Formicidae family and the order Hymenoptera. In this order, we have similar creatures such as bees and wasps too. Within this order, there are over 12000 species of ants and 300 genera in them. The scientific names of different ants vary according to their variety. For instance, the most common black ant scientific name is lasius niger, and the white ant is Isoptera. Most ants are red or black, and their length can be about 1/3″ to ½” depending on the variety. They have six legs and three joints and come with powerful jaws.
Different Types of Ants in the World:
Now let us go ahead and explore all the types of ants with names present around us in the world. But, first, we will see the most popular ants species and varieties list that often is spotted around.
1. Argentine Ants:
As the name suggests, these Argentine ants species are native to Argentina’s areas, and Brazil later spread to the United States. The ants range about a length of 1/16″ to ¼” and are oval in shape. They have a dark brown and black color shiny body. However, these Argentine ants prefer sweet substances for foods but can eat everything they find, including meat and fats. Thus, they not only work to gather food but also foraging food. In most cases, Argentine ants are in wet locations and environments that have a food source.
2. Carpenter Ants:
Carpenter types of ants are pretty common ones globally, and as one may guess, they prefer nests and areas near wood. These carpenter ants are dangerous to your homes, given that they feed on wood and damage the surroundings and objects inside the residence. These move around like a colony, where the types of worker ants follow queen ants in a colony and increase food supply. They move in very large numbers together. The color of carpenter ants ranges from about red to black and is about 5/8″ in length.
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3. Crazy Ants:
The crazy ants are dark brown in color and are about 2.5 mm in length. They are very crowded and move in colonies together, especially in warm and humid environments. Their nests are around the damp sites and feed on seeds or plant secretions or fruits and household scraps.
4. Odorous House Ants:
One may guess from the name in itself- the odorous types of house ants get their name from the strong odor and smell they leave when crushed. The odorous house ants nest inside the houses and are native to the United States. These sizes range around 1/6″ and come in brown or black color. This kind of house ants prefers to eat sugar, sweets, and dead insects. They like to nest around soil, debris, mulch, or around floor and wall cracks.
5. Pavement Ants:
The Pavement ants make their nests under the cracks or inside the pavements, and hence they get the name. The pavement ants move in huge numbers, primarily even groups of 3000 to 5000 members. These ants variety is dark brown or black in color and will eat insects, honeydew, grease, seeds, bread, and nuts.
6. Fire Ants:
The types of Fire ants are a pretty common kind of ants species that come in a copper-brown color range with a very dark color abdomen. The fire ants prefer to nest around logs and the grounds, bite humans, or aggressively give very itchy and painful stings. They feed on insects, earthworms, sweets, and fats. These ants are prevalent to live in different environments and can even destroy the surroundings, both indoors and outdoors areas.
7. Leaf-Cutting Ant:
The Leafcutter ants belong to the tropical regions only, primarily an issue in agriculture and farmland. However, they can pose a threat by removing the foliage and are even familiar in the news for reducing the annual yield for several framers. In most cases, these ants live underground in the colonies and soils and feed on leaf clippings, pests, and fungi.
8. Rover Ant:
The rover ants are dark-colored ants who build nests in natural as well as other habitats. They nest around the underground areas, stones, bricks, timbers, and so on, including the potted plants. The infestations of rover plants are tough to control as they move in large groups. They are tiny and very invasive in nature and have uneven-shaped bodies. They feed on sugar, soil, pests, and insects.
9. Pharaoh Ants:
The Pharaoh’s types of ants are very tiny and minimal in size; they hardly range to about 1.5-2mm long. They come in the yellow and brown color abdomen and are very hard to notice. Most believe that the pharaoh ants originate in Africa in the hotter climates and have spread to several parts. However, they can live in hot and humid to ideal weather conditions too in the course of time. These ants feed on dead insects, meat, and other foods and nest around heated buildings associated with humid conditions.
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10. Acrobat Ants:
Acrobat ants are about 1/16 to 1/8 inch, are small and tiny, not very large to notice. These ants are famous as they carry venom with them to defend and attack when required. However, these venomous types of ants cannot hurt humans by piercing them into the skin. The acrobat ants live outdoors and are brown color essentially. They live inside woods or damaged structures and are aggressive.
11. Bullet Ant:
Bullet ants are incredibly and tremendously painful when bit. That is how the name came, as one feels like a bullet shot them. However, it is not very deadly too. This is a stinging ant that can give pure, intense pain that can last up to 24 hours. These ants nest around trees and feed on tree sap, small insects, and so on. They are black or brown in color.
12. Bulldog Ant:
Bulldog ants are a bit larger comparatively than the others and are native to Australia. They come with more enormous jaws and can give an intense sting that is painful. These ants are red and orangish in color, essentially live around woodlands and forest areas, and make their homes underground. The Australian types of ants are aggressive, and the venom injected by bulldog ants is allergic to reactions.
13. African Ant:
The African ants are the largest species-genus of ants that come in various types and colors. They are native to central and east Africa regions. These ants are bright in color and can come in smaller to medium sizes, up to 14 mm. These giant ant species can nest below the ground or on wooden works, both indoors and outdoors. They are mainly harmless and not hurting.
14. Redwood Ant:
The Redwood ant is native to Europe and North America and nests in and around wood. Although not dangerous to humans, the redwood types of ants can damage the surroundings. These ants feed on insects and aphids largely. They move in large numbers, are populous, and need control to end the damage.
15. Harvester Ant:
The harvester ants are kind of agricultural ants that collect seeds and make their homes outdoors. They are primarily seeding predators and live in hot and dry regions especially. These types of ants do not invade homes, do not prefer entering indoors, and often establish nests in gardens, yards, and farms.
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Interesting Facts About Ants:
There are a few interesting and fun facts you may not know about ants too.
- Ants neither have ears nor lungs. Did you know this?
- Ants can swim. If you leave them on a mild surface of the water, they do not die immediately.
- Ants have two stomachs!
- Fire ants are among those varieties that cause heavy damage in and around. It is estimated that fire ants cause millions of US dollars every year damage.
- The ants can live up to even 30 years, making them the longest living insects.
- Except for Antarctica, ants are found everywhere, in every region and continent.
- One of the large ant nests ever found was over 3700 miles wide. Did you believe this?!
We hope you explored and learnt something new from today’s guide on types of ants and their species. We indeed ourselves did not know the existence of several kinds of species in ants types. What do you think about this? Let us know your comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions & Answers:
1. Do all kinds of ants invade homes?
No, particular species of ants only invade homes or cause damage inside the homes. Likewise, there are specific outdoor ants that do not enter houses.
2. Can ants build nests inside homes?
Yes, a few ants types can live inside homes and build nests in cracked walls or doors or rotting woods.
3. What are the most common ants present in India?
The red ant, harvester ant, fire ant, and pharaoh ant are popular and commonly found in India.
Disclaimer:
This is exclusively a guide about types of ants species for informative purposes only. The opinions and overview in this article are provided from various sources across the web. The author does not guarantee or promise any accuracy of the facts provided in this article.
