Species diversity of ants for which you need to find out. Types of ants. The most common type of ants in Russia. How many species of ants are there in the world? Trial site bookmark, its description
The ant belongs to the class of insects, the type of arthropods, the order Hymenoptera, the family of ants (lat. Formicidae). By organization, ants belong to a group of social insects with a clear division into three castes: working individuals, females and males.
Blood Red Ant (Slaver)(lat. Formica sanguinea) widely distributed in Europe, central Russia, found in China and Mongolia. Workers are up to 8 mm long and have a black body with an orange head. The uterus of an ant grows up to 10 mm and is distinguished by a red head and orange color breast. Ants build summer nests in half-decayed stumps, in the ground and under stones, in winter time the family moves to another nest located at the base of the trees. A typical way of life of this species of ants is predatory raids on anthills of brown forest, agile and other ants. Captured pupae are brought to the nest and raised as "slaves".
Yellow Amazon ant (lat. Polyergus rufescens)- a species of ants that is quite large in size: females reach almost a centimeter in length, males are somewhat more modest - 6-7.5 mm, "soldiers" are even smaller and rarely grow more than 5-7 mm. Females and "soldiers" are painted in yellow-reddish tones, the body is usually covered with black hairs. Male ants are black, limbs and antennae are brown. The species lives in Europe, in western regions Asia, western Siberia. The Amazon ant prefers to settle in humid forests, choosing clearings and edges for the construction of an anthill. Amazons lead a slave-owning lifestyle, kidnap other ants in the pupal stage, and then use them as slaves, labor.
Legionnaire ants or nomad ants (dorilins, roaming ants) (lat. Dorylinae)- subfamily army ants living exclusively in the tropics and subtropics. Legionnaire ants are especially common in Central and South America are found in Africa. They live in huge colonies, most of which are working individuals. Ants nomads destroy everything that is suitable for food in their path. Despite the average size of 2-4 mm, this species ants "takes" their numbers, destroying the crops of cultivated plants during invasions and feeding on their juices.
Where do ants live?
These insects can be observed on all continents, in all natural areas and climatic zones. They are absent only in the harsh climate of the Arctic and Antarctica, on the cold islands of Greenland and Iceland, as well as in the hot deserts. In areas with a temperate and cold climate, ants hibernate in winter.
Basically, these insects build their anthill dwellings in rotten or rotten wood, in the soil and under small stones. Some types of ants take over other people's nests or live next to a person.
The food of ants is varied and depends on the species. The diet of most species consists of plant and animal food, and each individual feeds several times a day.
The source of protein necessary for the growth and development of ant larvae in nature is dead insects, animal remains, trophic eggs laid by the uterus with an excess of food, insect pest eggs and half-digested food of adult ants. Domestic ant larvae are content with dairy products, gelatin, and leftover egg dishes. The nutrition of the uterus of ants also consists of protein food, which is specially chewed by the ants caring for it.
The basis of the carbohydrate menu of most ants is honeydew (sugar-containing leaf juices released during temperature changes) and honeydew - sweet secretions of insects, especially. Ants - dairy farmers grow aphids for themselves, herd them, nurse them and protect their offspring from other ants. These shepherds milk their pets and feed on their milk.
Additional components of the food of ants in nature can be seeds and roots of plants, nuts, tree sap. Some ants grow colonies of mushrooms in anthills as food, and also feed on insects.
Reaper ants consume dry plant seeds, dry fruits and crops. They are able to store 1 kg of raw materials, which makes it possible to feed an entire colony of ants in winter. Leaf-cutting ants bring pieces of leaves to the anthill, chew and store in a kind of greenhouse chambers. Over time, mushrooms grow from these pieces in storage, which are the main food for these gourmet ants. Centromyrmex ants feed exclusively on termites. The dracula ant drinks juices secreted by its own larvae, and feeds the larvae with various insects. House ants are omnivores.
In winter, with a significant cooling, the ants hibernate, during which they starve. Most species, however, are active in the winter in an airtight anthill, feeding on abundant supplies.
We humans sometimes recklessly crush tiny ants under our feet, not realizing that these creatures are an important and integral part of our ecosystem. These tiny creatures existed on earth long before the arrival human race. Ants originated 145 million years ago and they witnessed the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Since its origin, ants have evolved into the most dominant creatures in the earth's ecosystem. For example, they make up 25% of the total weight of the animal world in the tropics. Possessing extraordinary adaptability, these creatures have occupied all possible niches and habitats on earth. They colonized the forest canopy, dug underground tunnels, built nests in rotten logs, crevices, etc. Regardless of the temperature environment, have adapted to live in the mountains to be part of the ecosystem at high altitude.
According to scientists, there are almost 30,000 species of various ants on earth, although today only about 12,000 species are known, and even fewer have been studied. Ants in the ecosystem of the earth play important role. They are major soil builders, energy providers, pollinators, scavengers, biological pest control agents, indicators of the health of ecosystems, and an important part of the food chain.
Ants in an ecosystem make up one tenth of the total biomass on earth, and roughly equal to the total biomass of humans. If the ants die, the human race will be unable to replenish these resources. Unfortunately, the influence of human anthropogenic activity in natural ecosystems has led to the fact that dozens of ant species have become pests. A typical example of this pharaonic ant (Monomorium pharaonis), he is also a house ant, which entered our homes.
In nature, there is no concept of "harmful-useful" species of ants. There are simply situations in which the same type of ant can bring either harm or benefit. For example, they are very useful in the steppe, where plant seeds are distributed. And they also become pests near currents or in gardens. Construction activity is also useful, as the structure of the soil improves, although in the meadow earth embankments interfere with mowing.
The role of ants in the forest ecosystem brings undoubted benefits. As an example, in pine forests, their destruction activities harmful insects especially in areas of mass reproduction. Most importantly, ants primarily prey on those insects that are available in large quantities. Ants are smart creatures, and they understand that it is more profitable to specialize in obtaining food of one type, concentrated in one place.
REFERENCE: The total weight of ants is from 10 to 20% of the biomass of all terrestrial animals inhabiting a particular region, and in the tropics the share of "ant weight" reaches 25%.
These viable insects are numerous not only in total number, but also in species composition.
Species diversity of ants and features of their settlement
Biological classification classifies all ants as family of formicides (Formicidae) and order Hymenoptera, which also includes bees, wasps and bumblebees. Indeed, ants, more precisely, ant queens, are winged in short period breeding. Then the founder of the new anthill builds the first chamber of the future "palace", gnaws off her own wings, which she will no longer need, and over a long, sometimes twenty-year life, gives birth to a numerous ant tribe, which, in accordance with its castes, will build, work, nurse larvae, get food and defend the territory.
In the ant family, formicide there are about 7000 species. These heat-loving insects are especially numerous and diverse in the tropics, and the cold forest-tundra zone is the natural limit of their settlement.
In warm latitudes - heavenly ant places - exotic, aggressive, dangerous and amazing species have formed:
South American Bullet Ant with exclusively painful bite, the sensations from which are compared precisely with a bullet wound. The length of these insects reaches three centimeters.
Red fire ants . An aggressive Brazilian species that was accidentally introduced to the southern United States displaced a large number of native ants, and then, via merchant ships, spread to Australia and China. The pain from the bite of insects of this species is the same as from a fire burn.
Black bulldog ants live in Australia and Tasmania. When bitten, a strong poison is released, which, in addition to pain, often causes acute, deadly allergic reactions.
Soldier Ants- a nomadic species found in South America and Africa. They spend a significant part of their lives moving in dense columns that destroy all living things in their path, unable to quickly hide. Without a permanent anthill, they form a temporary breeding ground, forming a spherical colony of own bodies linked to each other.
yellow ants living in Arizona, produce the most powerful poison that can kill any animal weighing up to two kilograms.
Fortunately, in the middle lane, these monsters of the ant world do not survive.
Inhabits 220 species ants in Russia and the CIS countries, which are distributed in full accordance with temperature conditions - the norther the area, the fewer species of ants live there:
- Caucasian region - more than 160 species;
- Ukraine - 74 species;
- Moscow region - 40 species;
- Arkhangelsk region - 24 species.
In the middle lane, three types of ants are most often found:
- red myrmica with a body of yellow-brown-red color, not more than 6 mm in length. This species feeds on insects, including pests, and also collects sweet honeydew - the sugary secretions of aphids.
- red forest ant medium-sized with a dark abdomen and reddish middle segments of the body is the main fighter against insects - pests of the forest. It is included in the international Red List of endangered species.
- Black garden ant reaches a length of 1 cm, destroys insects and collects a sweet honeydew of aphids. Black garden "queen" lives record long term- 28 years.
A photo
Next you will see photos of all types of ants: 
In addition to these natural species, it is found almost everywhere brownie, ship or pharaoh ant, first found in Egyptian tombs and, due to its small size and high adaptability, spread over vast territories. The length of its yellow translucent yellow body with a dark abdomen does not exceed 5 mm. This warm-hearted settles exclusively in houses and apartments, multiplies rapidly, spoils the products that it can reach and can be a carrier of infectious diseases. It forms several colonies that ensure the preservation of numbers: if one nest is destroyed, the remaining clusters of insects will quickly restore the ant "livestock".
IMPORTANT: Pharaoh ant invading a human dwelling - of course, unpleasant neighbor which should be removed as soon as possible.
Other common types of ants, withone side, bring undoubted benefit. Their daily activities to move and process a variety of substances improves soil structure and fertility. Numerous harmful insects become prey of ants.
However, ants are not only protect aphids and worms- suppliers of sweet honeydew, tasty for them - but also bred these pests, settling them on green stems and leaves of plants, including cultivated ones.
Therefore, for gardening farms, the neighborhood with large anthills is undesirable.
Biologically expedient organization of colonies, poisonous chemical "weapons" and high adaptability make ants the champions in terms of numbers among insects.
A variety of ant species develop all latitudes from the forest-tundra to the tropics, destroying pests and ensuring the transfer nutrients into the soil.
At the same time, the invasion of these many thousands of ant communities on agricultural land and in human dwellings makes us look for ways effective fight with them.
Useful video
In this video, you will learn more about all types and varieties of ants:
They are, as a rule, mono- or oligophages, and their faunistic composition is closely related to the composition of vegetation) (Dlussky, Kupyanskaya, 1972).
Microclimate. It is logical to expect that the main factor determining the abundance and richness of the ant fauna in the presence of a sufficient amount of food and in the absence of strong differences in the mechanical composition of the soil is the microclimate, primarily the microclimate of the soil. Detailed study microclimate in the Ussuriysky Reserve (Tarankov, 1967) showed that the highest summer and average annual soil temperatures are observed in glades and clearings. In a clearing in a valley, the average annual temperature of the soil at a depth of 20 cm over 4 years was, for example, 6.1°. At the same time, in open areas, daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations are much stronger than in the forest, and in winter the soil freezes to a depth of 70-150 cm. Under the forest canopy, temperature fluctuations smooth out and the depth of soil freezing decreases. In black fir and stone pine forests, the annual temperature range on the soil surface decreases to 20°C or more, and the freezing depth (more precisely, the penetration depth of the zero thermal isopleth) decreases by 20–50 cm; in the ash forest, to 20° and 10–20 cm, respectively. at the same time, under the forest canopy, as a result of shading, the summer and average annual soil temperatures are lower than in open areas. Thus, in the cedar forest on the southern slope, the average annual soil temperature at a depth of 20 cm, according to four-year observations, was 5.25°, in the ash forest - 5.1°, and in the black fir forest on the northern slope - 4.55°.
Comparing these data with the results of our studies, we can see that ants clearly respond to changes in soil microclimate. The largest number of ants and their highest biomass were noted in areas with the highest average annual temperature, i.e., in the clearing and in the cedar forest. At the same time, strong fluctuations in temperature and, apparently, mostly harsh wintering conditions turn out to be favorable for practically only one species - Lasius niger. It is characterized by an extremely wide eurytopicity, perhaps the widest among all Palearctic ants. This view (together with Camponotus herculeanus, Leptothorax acervorum and Myrmica rubra) penetrates farthest to the north, and in the zone of mixed and deciduous forests lives in almost all biotopes. The most favorable biocenosis for the existence of ants is the cedar forest on the southern slope, where, while maintaining relatively high average annual temperatures, temperature fluctuations are greatly smoothed out. It is on this site that the richest fauna of ants and the largest number of heat-loving relict species are found.
In the Middle and Northern Sikhote-Alin, in fir-spruce forests, clearings, clearings and sparse areas are among the most heated areas. An analysis of the daily temperature variation in the clearing and in the forest showed that in summer the clearing is at a higher favorable conditions than a forest. The average monthly temperature here is higher than under the forest canopy, in July by 0.8 °, in August by 1.5 °, in September by 0.8 ° (). The main reason for the good warming of clearings in the summer is the high illumination associated with the extremely low density of the forest stand. There are literature data (Grinfeld, 1939) that clear cuts receive approximately 10-15 times more heat than closed stations located nearby. Edges and sparse areas of the forest also warm up relatively well.
Accounts have shown that clearings are most intensively populated by ants. Everything is concentrated here thermophilic species (F. sanguinea, F. lemani, L. niger, L. flavus). The edges and sparse areas of the forest () are also quite densely populated.
It is logical to assume that heat-loving species penetrate into closed forest biotopes through open spaces and clearings. By the presence of these species, to a certain extent, one can judge the sparseness of the forest stand. Apparently, it is she who explains the presence of nests Lasius niger in larch forests. In the rest of the forest types studied by us, heat-loving species are absent, which indicates a high density, which favors the settlement only typically. forest ants. Some differences in the placement of the latter on different areas forests, apparently, are also explained by the temperature conditions associated with the density of the forest stand. So, at the first age stage in both types of forest, the stand is the most sparse and consists of individual clumps, the second stage, on the contrary, is characterized by the highest canopy density. On the third and fifth, partial lightening and thinning of the forest stand is observed (Kozin, 1972) . It can be assumed that it is these differences that determine the somewhat higher density of nests of ants of the genus Myrmica at the first age stage and a smaller one at the second.
Fires. In the spring of 1972, several of our test plots, where the marking of anthills had already been carried out, were damaged by fire. The herbaceous and shrub layer was burnt out, in places of stable and prolonged fire, the litter and the upper soil horizon were severely damaged, stumps and fallen trees were burned. The fire was fatal to the ants living in stumps and logs. At the same time, soil ants of the genus Myrmica didn't get hurt. This is apparently due to the fact that they have not yet left the wintering chambers located in the soil at a depth of 20-25 cm. It should be noted that already in current year settlement of the conflagration began different types ants.
Ecological features of species. It is generally accepted that ants are heat-loving insects and concentrate in warm biotopes (Arnoldi, 1968). In the experiment (thermocity to hydrocity), if given the right to choose, ants choose warm and humid conditions (Grinfeld, 1939). However, studies have shown that a number of species ignore cuttings and concentrate in sparse forests, and some species prefer closed shady forests. Leptothorax acervorum and Camponotus herculeanus sachalinensis in general, they are content with a small amount of heat, they go far to the north (Kamenskoye, Ayanka, the upper reaches of the Kblima) and are found in mountain tundra on colder windward slopes, and M. kamtshatica and F. aquilonia live in closed damp dark coniferous forests. Experimental studies (Berman et al., 1980) have shown that some have high frost resistance, which enables them to endure harsh winters.
Along with this, there are eurybiont species that simultaneously populate most of the surveyed biotopes. The study of the biotopic confinement of species makes it possible to find out what conditions they prefer. Depending on the attitude to heat, 3 groups can be distinguished among our ants: microtherms - species that are content with a small amount of heat, living under the forest canopy, in closed forests; macrotherms - species that withstand direct solar lighting, preferring sparse forests and open biotopes ; mesotherms - species with moderate heat requirements, which include most of the ants Far East. Most of our species are also characterized by moderate requirements for air and soil moisture and belong to the mesophilic group, several species prefer drier conditions, they belong to the group of hemixerophylls (hcf). In most areas, species with moderate requirements for heat and moisture (mesotherms and mesophiles) predominate, and only in the extreme south of Primorye and Kunashir and the Khanka and Zeya-Bureya plains does the number of macrotherms and hemixerophiles increase, most often accustomed to open places.
The Far East, strongly elongated in the meridional direction (and in the south also in the latitudinal direction), has a complex mountainous terrain, is influenced by the seas and the vast Asian continent and is characterized by such natural contrasts that are not found in any region of our country. Meanwhile, several species of ants (transpalearctic Formica sanguinea, boreal Leptothorax acervorum, Formica lemani, F. picea, Camponotus herculeanus) are found from the southern borders to the far north. More than 10 eurybiotic transpalearctic species are also widely distributed in Siberia, in different ecological conditions from semi-deserts to tundras. It is noted that the majority of transpalearctic species in the south of Primorye occupy a whole range of biotopes and, preferring closed shady, humid places, behave like microtherms. In the middle regions of Primorye, these species pass into mesothermal and mesophytic biotopes (sparse forests different type), in the fir-spruce forests of Primorye - for clearings and clearings. Similar examples are also characteristic of the ants of Siberia (Dmitrienko and Petrenko, 1976; Reznikova, 1983) and are an excellent illustration of the principle of changing stations (Bei-Bienko, 1961).
Due to the principle of change of stations, some species, known as forest species, penetrate into the northern part of the Far East through intrazonal habitats. It is known that completely different temperature conditions can be created in intrazonal habitats: in Taimyr, steep slopes receive 1.5 times more heat than flat areas (Romanova, 1969) . In the north, the southern slopes, sheltered meadows, river valleys, dry slopes with shrubs or forb-grass vegetation, and willow and dwarf birch forests in the tundra can be attributed to intrazonal areas. It is in these habitats that the majority of ant species are noted, which are characterized by moderate requirements for heat and moisture. Ants associated with intrazonal habitats make up 80% of the total number of species in the tundra, 63 in dark coniferous forests, and 64% in larch forests. A large number of intrazonal elements in the fauna indicates the severity of the conditions, which are not entirely favorable for this group of insects. Due to harsher conditions, ants are forced to move to better lit and warmer places.
Interspecies relationships. The distribution of nests and the number of ants depend not only on abiotic factors, but are largely determined by the interspecific relationships of ants. A number of works indicate that ants in most terrestrial biocenoses constitute autonomous stable complexes, called multi-species associations (Demchenko, 1975; Dlussky, 19816; Reznikova, 1983). In most cases, multispecies associations are organized hierarchically. The leading position in them is occupied by dominant species with large feeding areas, protected areas and actively functioning in different tiers of the biocenosis. Dominant species determine the number and activity of subdominants, subdominants, respectively, the number and activity of influents. AT Western Europe and the European part of the USSR in most types of plantations dominated by species of the genus Formica(subgenus Formica), associations with the dominance of the species are described in Western Siberia F. pratensis(Reznikova, 1983) .
Large anthills of the dominant species are located more or less evenly throughout the entire populated area, regardless of temperature conditions, and are confined to a certain type of forest. Other types of ants usually avoid settling near the anthills of the dominant species. So, in a multi-species association characteristic of the middle Sikhote-Alin, anthills of the dominant species F. aquilonia tend to mature stands of fir-spruce forest, located at an altitude of 600-700 m above sea level. m. Nests subdominant Lasius niger are noted down the slope at the border of the feeding territory of the dominant species, nests Formica lemani- in the feeding area F. aquilonia, but at a considerable distance from the anthills F. aquilonia. Nests more small species(influents) Myrmica jessensis, M. orientalis usually placed in small groups (2-4) and also at some distance from the nests and roads of the dominant species. In the extreme south of Primorye, in the vicinity of the village. Khasan (Pigeon Rock), noted multispecies association with dominance F. yessensis, subdominant L. alienus and influents Myrmica orientalis and Leptothorax nassonovi. In the vicinity of Vladivostok, in places where black-fir-broad-leaved forests have been preserved, dominate Liometopum orientale: it has large nests, a whole system of foraging roads and a large feeding area, protected from other ants. Being an obligate dendrobiont and intensively consuming the honeydew of tree aphids that live in high crowns, it also obtains food in other tiers: top layer litter, underground "tunnels" with root aphids, on the soil surface. During the period of intensive feeding of larvae, ants gather in groups on the soil surface and in the litter, on large insects or other invertebrates (caterpillars, butterflies, sawfly larvae, centipedes, snails), eat them on the spot and transfer food to the anthill in the goiter. In the autumn, when aphids migrate to the roots, we found clusters of ants in underground "tunnels". In early spring, ants were found on the branches of those plants whose stipules secrete sweet juice; in May, they actively carried the seeds of Amur Adonis, from which soft juicy appendages were eaten away.
Most of the ant species found here have more or less the same food composition: they widely consume aphids, use small insects, less often plant seeds. Several types - Camponotus herculeanus sachalinensis, C. quadrinotatus, Lasius fuliginosus, L.capitatus- also arrange nests in wood. Particularly complex relationships, including competition for housing, the use of food territory, the possession of "smoldering" trees, are formed among L. orientale with views C.h. sachalinensis and L. fuliginosus, which have a similar ecological niche: they inhabit the largest hollow trees and actively consume wood aphids. Border conflicts are particularly easy to spot in an area where nests L. orientale located very densely and there are practically no free trees suitable for settlement. So, on June 4, 1984, in the afternoon, workers L. orientale formed a road (147 m long) to a cedar tree (d=0.6; h=25m) with a small hollow inhabited C.h. sachalinensis. Having destroyed the hosts, they occupied this hollow and began to continue building the nest.
In another place, a case was observed when an anthill L. orientale was attacked by workers from a nearby nest L. fuliginosus. The latter invaded the feeding territory L. orientale, having walked about 8 m along his foraging road, which at that time was almost not functioning. In response, several thousand workers instantly appeared on the road. L. orientale who pushed back the attackers and restored the former borders. Their numbers on the threatened road remained high for the next few days.
The relationship of these ecologically similar species is completely unexplored. The tension between them is probably somewhat softened by the fact that they live in different habitats: L. orientale, as a rule, prefers the middle part of the slopes, a L. fuliginosus settles down the slopes, in more humid places. There are some differences in the spectra of nutrition: if L. orientale along with the consumption of honeydew, aphids widely use protein food, bringing it in the mandibles and goiter, then L. fuliginosus provides the needs of the nest for food mainly due to honeydew aphids. Ants of the latter species intensively consume honeydew up to late autumn, while L. orientale already reduced their activity. In the weakening of competition with C.h. sachalinensis, probably, big role differences in activity time play: if L. orientale most active during the day C.h. sachalinensis- mostly at night.
Other species live mainly in the soil and belong to different life forms, which feed mainly in some kind of tier: geobionts in the soil, stratobionts in the litter, herpetobionts on the soil surface, chortobionts in the grass. Some, such as geobionts Ponera japonica, Stenamma ussuriense, Lasius flavus, L. carniolicus, never meet L. orientale and depend little on it. At the same time, referring to the dominants, which are characterized by an organizing role in multi-species associations (Reznikova, 1976), L. orientale affects the abundance, activity, and territorial distribution of many species found in the forest formations inhabited by it. Although most ants are active during the day and can be seen in different parts of the feeding area L. orientale, during the period of its increased activity, they avoid going out on its roads and usually arrange nests at a distance from its nests and roads.
Biogeocenosis
an evolutionarily formed, spatially limited, long-term self-sustaining, homogeneous ecological system in which living organisms and the abiotic environment surrounding them are functionally interconnected.
Biomass
the total mass of individuals of one species, group of species or community as a whole per unit area or volume of habitat. Plant biomass is called phytomass, animal biomass is zoomass.
Invertebrates
animals that do not have a backbone: protozoa, sponges, coelenterates, worms, molluscs, arthropods, echinoderms, etc.; about 3/4 of all animal species.
Polyphage
an organism that prefers a food group over an extensive but relatively coherent systematic category.
Aphids
suborder of insects of the order Homoptera. Length 0.5-6 mm. St. 2.5 thousand species. They are distributed mainly in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. They live in colonies on plants. Many smoldering dangerous pests, some carriers of the series viral diseases plants. The sugary stools of the smoldering (fall) attract ants, which guard the smoldering.
Pad
a sweet, thick liquid secreted by aphids, mealybugs, and other insects that feed on plant sap. honey bee collects honeydew from leaves and processes it into honeydew honey.
Lasius niger(Linnaeus, 1758) - black garden ant, black ant, garden ant
Genus: Camponotus Mayr, 1861- carpenter ants, camponotus, carpenter ants, sugar ants
There are 965 species in total.
The ant family is by far the most evolutionarily advanced. They live in colonies in which self-organization and division of labor are clearly traced. Ant individuals have a special "language" that allows them to convey complex information, as well as a smell that allows them to determine the belonging of individual individuals to a particular family. In nature, they maintain a symbiotic balance with other insect species, plants, bacteria, and fungi.
Today, science knows more than 14 thousand varieties of ants, 300 of which live in Russia. Not all of them are harmless to humans, and their population is increasing every year, so it is recommended to know as much as possible about them, especially when ants are constantly trying to take root in a house or apartment.
What are ants and what is their role in nature
Despite the beneficial ecological and agricultural features of ants, they can still harm humans by settling in human habitation. From a large number varieties of ants should be aware of the most dangerous to humans that live in nature and whose poisonous bites can be fatal to sensitive people.
ant family
In spite of different kinds ants, all of them do not live as separate individuals, but build common Home- an anthill, within which they multiply their population. In each of these ant settlements, ants are divided into groups that perform a specific task.
The colonial way of life of these insects contributes to the subsequent division of one anthill into several others. They often build their dwellings deep in the soil, in rotten wood, under small rocky rocks, and can also settle in the foundation of a house, under floors, in the outer cracks of walls.
The most dangerous ants
Dangerous ants are often referred to as killers. Killer ants are not fiction, but scientific proof of the existence of such insects, which can lead to the death of a person, allergy sufferers are more at risk. But this does not mean that other people may not suffer from their bites.
Poisonous ant populations include the following varieties:
There are legends among people that cannibal ants are the most dangerous. However, this is just a myth. Ants don't eat people. Their dangerous species can bite a person, due to the many bites and a large number ant poison, he can die. Small children are at risk of being bitten by hordes of ants.
The biggest ants in the world
People are afraid not only poisonous properties ants, but also their size. Not all types of ants in nature are small insects. The most gigantic of them are represented by the following types:
The smallest ants
The smallest individuals from the family of ant insects are house ants that settle in people's houses and apartments: pharaoh ants and small red ants (they are also called brown ants). They are attracted to any food waste. Often they settle near the trash. The size of their bodies is 2-4 mm, males are winged. They are a big problem for residents, because they can settle in furniture, floors, foundations, and even household appliances. It is very difficult to fight him, one apartment can be one big anthill with many hidden passages and nests.
Pharaoh ants can enter an apartment from neighboring housing, from the street through windows, with things or products brought. House ants are large colonial hordes, the neighborhood with which is not something pleasant.
At home, ants with wings can also start. Flying individuals are not some special kind of ants, they are just flying females and males that have a so-called mating season. Flying ant specimens signify that somewhere in human habitation the development of an anthill is soon planned. The wing is food for the female after she has laid her eggs. But the males die after the fertilization of the females. 
Pharaoh ants and redheads can annoy residents for years, the only effective method to combat them - the use of toxic agents - sprays, powders, mixtures, gels, aerosols, boric acid. The process of struggle is quite long, because the effectiveness of the methods of struggle depends on the rate of death of the queen of the anthill.
Ant populations are very large, some species interbreed with others, and sometimes it is very difficult to determine which species they belong to.
- In nature, a spider was recently discovered exactly similar to an ant. But the fact that this is not an ant is indicated by eight legs instead of six. Such spiders make their way into anthills as scouts. An excellent disguise of such a spider is not distinguished even by ants.
- Not all ants build their homes in tree trunks and in the ground. Ants, called weavers, make their homes on the branches of trees, stitching the leaves with cobwebs that the larvae secrete into a large cocoon. The weight of such an ant nest can reach three to five kilograms.
Ants against termites
In nature, there are both small red ants, medium and large red and black, brown, and a white wingless "ant". This is what termites look like. What is most interesting, they have nothing to do with ants, although they are similar in appearance to them, they are direct relatives of cockroaches. Termites are a treat for ants.