Fire ants are a group of species from the genus Solenopsis. They’re notorious for their aggressive and territorial behavior. They get their name from the burning sensation caused by their painful stings. Fire ants include the invasive species Solenopsis invicta. These ants, otherwise known as red imported fire ants, can cause fatal medical issues. They’re…
The number of ants in a colony can vary widely depending on species and other factors. Small colonies can have only hundreds of individuals. Larger ones, on the other hand, can surpass millions. In fact, some species can form supercolonies with billions of ants. The number of ants in a colony can vary widely depending on…
Ants are well-represented in most parts of the world except Antarctica. They live in a wide variety of habitats including forests, grasslands, and urban areas. There, they build different types of nests that provide shelter for their colonies. In this article, we’ll learn more about where ants live as we discuss the following: We’ll also…
Ants have a good number of natural predators that eat them. Many organisms take advantage of their availability and rely on them for nutrition. These organisms include: In this article, we’ll look at a comprehensive list of what eats ants. Mammals That Eat Ants Anteaters The term anteater is a common name for the four…
Ants are detritivores and omnivorous insects that eat a wide variety of foods including plants, animals, fungi, and dead or rotting material. Some common types of food that ants may feed on include seeds, nectar, sap, honeydew, and meat. In this article we’ll further discuss the different types of food that ants eat, what they…
If ants went extinct the whole ecosystem would be in disarray. While ants may be tiny and may thus seem irrelevant, they are actually very important for the ecosystem and contribute largely to environmental diversity, productivity, and nutrient and energy flow. Should they disappear, many other organisms will be negatively affected and those that directly…
For as much as I have encountered ants on a daily basis, I never really thought much of them. But as I’ve learned more about them, I’ve come to find that they’re quite fantastic little critters. That’s why in this article, I’ll be sharing with you fun and interesting facts about ants. Ants Have Existed…
No, ants do not eat plants. Despite being opportunistic eaters that feed on a variety of food sources, ants don’t eat and consume grown plants. They do however, feed on plant material such as fruit, nectar, sap, and seeds. In this article we’ll learn more about ants and plants as we learn more about whether…
No, ants don’t eat leaves. While ants are known to be highly opportunistic eaters, there are no known ants that consume leaves as food. That doesn’t mean however, that ants don’t damage them. While they may not consume leaves, some ants called leafcutter ants are known to cut them down and destroy them. In fact,…
No, ants don’t pee. While their bodies may produce urine, they don’t end up urinating as most of the water is absorbed back to the body by their excretory system. In the end, they produce solid pellets of waste which they instead excrete by pooping. In this article we’ll learn more about why ants don’t…