Formica subserica

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                             About Ants

Ants have been around for over 100 million years! They are believed to have evolved from ancient wasps that nest in the ground.

                                            

                                            Ancient ant fossilized in amber

There are at least 12,000 identified ant species in the world. Scientists believe there are many more. They are an incredibly successful species, probably due to their complex social organization.

Ants are in the phylum Arthropoda because they have an exoskeleton and jointed legs.

Ants are in the class Insecta and have six legs like other insects. Their bodies are divided into three segments - head, thorax, and abdomen.

 
                                          

 

Ants belong to the order Hymenoptera and are related related to wasps and bees.

 

       

 

Ants are further classified into the family Formicidae. The ones in this area belong

to four main subfamilies.