Ants: their types, nutrition, reproduction and life in general

Ants are the closest relatives of wasps and bees. They can be found everywhere except the Far North and Antarctica. There are more than 10,000 species of ants on Earth. The most amazing of them live in warm countries, but Russia is also rich in a variety of ant people. For example, in forests you can often see large settlements of red ants - anthills.

The anthill, dotted with a complex system of passages, is a miracle of insect construction technology. Up to 1.5 million ants can live in such a dwelling. They maintain constant temperature and humidity there, and to do this they raise pine needles and twigs up. An ordinary anthill has a rather complex structure. It has many floors and rooms. In some, ants store food, in others there are eggs, larvae and pupae. This complex economy requires constant care and protection.

Forest dwelling of ants

You can spend hours watching these tireless workers. Some of them are engaged in construction and bring sticks, leaves, and pine needles to the anthill. Others prepare food. Still others guard their homes. Still others look after the larvae and constantly move them from place to place.

However, ants sometimes cause a lot of trouble. For example, leaf-cutter ants devastate gardens and fields. And their bites are dangerous for people and animals. They even damage roads with their underground structures.

The birth of ants begins with eggs laid by ant queens. There may be several or one of them in an anthill. Over time, larvae that look like small worms emerge from the eggs. They are looked after by nurse ants, who feed and clean them. The larvae grow quickly. After a few days, they wrap themselves in a silk cocoon and turn into pupae. And now real ants emerge from the pupae.

Anthill structure

In forests, ants perform an important job of improving the soil. Seed-eating ants help plants spread. Many species of ants are specifically used by humans to control pest caterpillars.

Ants care for their offspring

Description and appearance

Ants live mainly by smells, which allow them to determine not only their relatives, but also the place where the food is located. Insects are able to secrete formic acid to protect themselves from enemies in nature. They bite and it hurts quite a lot.

Larvae

Ant larvae hatch from eggs laid by queens. At first they are the same size as the eggs themselves - approximately 1 mm. The eggs are white or yellowish in color with a blue or gray tint and a very delicate covering.

Depending on the specific species and genus, the sizes and shapes of the larvae have characteristic differences.

They are covered with fine hairs, which protect them from damage or sticking together, which can happen when constantly carried by nurse ants. The larva goes through several stages and gradually fattens. Over time, it increases in size and turns into a pupa.

Adults (imago)

The body of an adult individual consists of three main parts, which are rarely separated from each other and are covered with a unique chitinous shell. They are connected by a waist - a kind of thin jumper.

The main parts of the insect's body:

• head;
• breast;
• abdomen.

The main features of the body structure and appearance of an adult ant:

• The compound eye consists of a huge number of lenses, but does not produce a high-quality image, but only allows it to react to movement. There are also three simple eyes on the top of the head.
• There are six legs, at the end of which there are thin claws, thanks to which insects can move along horizontal or vertical planes.
• There are thin antennae on the head that act as an organ of touch. They allow the insect to catch different odors and respond to air and soil vibrations.
• Females grow wings, but they disappear after fertilization.
• Body color can be very different and differs depending on the specific species.

The size of an ant directly depends on the variety and functions that are clearly defined for each member of the colony. On average, their size ranges from 1 mm to 4 cm.

The size of female insects is significantly larger than the size of worker insects.

Interesting Facts

Here are some facts about ants that will be interesting for both children and adults.

• Ants are one of the most ancient species on the planet, they lived during the time of dinosaurs.
• If you collect all the representatives of the family, their total mass will exceed the mass of people on Earth.
• The largest colony of ants consists of 1 billion individuals and covers an area of ​​6 thousand square meters, located in Europe.
• Some species of ants are “slave owners,” that is, they subjugate weaker species of relatives and force them to work for themselves, like slaves.
• The pain of a bullet ant bite is comparable to being hit by a bullet, hence the name. The pain may not go away for many hours.
• Bulldog ant venom is highly toxic to humans and can even cause death.

Bulldog Ant

• For every person on the planet, there are about a million of these insects.
• Ants are considered the smartest insects. The brain consists of 250 thousand cells.
• These little workers can build bridges from their own bodies to cross obstacles.
• Ants are the only group that, besides mammals, can absorb information and knowledge based on the experience of their relatives, and not on their own.
• Both male and female larvae hatch from the eggs; what they become in the future is determined by nutrition, so the insects themselves control the number of males and females, providing them with a different diet.

Types of ants

Today there are a huge number of species of these insects. Some of them are so similar to each other that only a specialist can determine exactly what genus this representative is. Let's look at the types of ants that most often live in our latitudes.

Forest

The forest variety prefers forests where a temperate climate prevails. This species is widespread throughout the Euro-Asian continent.

Main characteristics of forest inhabitants:

• Red-brown body color, reddish cheeks, black belly.
• They reach from 7 to 15 mm in length.
• In forests they build large nests, which can be up to 2 m in height. Branches with pine needles are used as building material.

The species is listed as endangered. Rare in some regions.

Meadow

The species is highly resistant to cold. Meadow ants prefer forest areas in the temperate latitudes of Eurasia (almost the entire territory of Europe, most of the Russian Federation).

Main characteristics of meadow ants:

• The color is red, there is a black spot on the chest, the body is covered with elastic hairs, but they are absent in females.
• They grow from 6 to 13 mm in length.
• They prefer to settle on the edges, meadows and clearings. The anthill is loose, with a diameter of about 3 m at the base. The dome looks like a slightly flattened cone. Large plant remains sprinkled with sand are used as construction material.
• Up to 70,000 insects live in one nest.

Garden

Black garden ants are the most common species in the Russian Federation. These insects are considered pests, as they can breed aphids and scale insects on garden crops.

Main characteristics of black garden ants:

• The body can be black or dark brown. The top of the body is covered with small hairs.
• Working individuals grow from 3 to 6 mm, females - up to 1 cm.
• Anthills are located underground. The part located on the surface looks like a small mound. This species also lives under large stones or in old wood.
• There are 70,000 individuals in the family and only one queen. The lifespan of the uterus is 30 years.

Earthen

This is the most common species in the middle zone. Earth ants differ from their counterparts in their small size. “Kids” are found almost everywhere.

Main characteristics of earth ants:

• The color is black or dark brown.
• Working individuals are very small – from 3 to 6 mm. Females reach a length of 6 mm to 1 cm.
• The nest is formed in the ground and gradually grows upward in the shape of a hummock. At the very top of the head there is a solarium, necessary for brood.

Earth ants are very aggressive and may attack other species to defend their territory.

Brownies

House or pharaoh ants are found throughout Russia. It was originally a tropical species that spread throughout the world in the 19th century. Insects traveled on ships from India and populated the entire planet.

Main characteristics of house ants:

• The insects are yellow-brown or red in color, with a dark abdomen. The uterus has tan marks that have a dark brown tint. Males always have wings.
• Insects differ from their counterparts in their small sizes - from 1 to 4 mm. The uterus can grow up to 6 mm.
• This species does not have a familiar anthill. Insects live in diffuse nests. Getting rid of pests is very difficult.
• This species loves warmth, so it often settles in human homes. Insects prefer to live between the walls of houses, in dark cracks or crevices, and settle behind wallpaper or inside equipment.

One family includes several thousand insects. Moreover, in one anthill there can be about 200 females. There are also large colonies - up to 300 thousand individuals.

Enemies and protection of ants

Ants have many enemies. Some of them penetrate inside the anthill, stealing supplies and eating the offspring. In addition to internal enemies, ants have many external ones. Thus, brown bears love to feast on these insects. Birds, wasps and predatory flies also feed on ants; lizards, moles and toads eat them. And in the tropics, anteaters feed on ants.

Giant anteater native to South America

The giant anteater is a large animal: its length including its tail reaches 230 cm. An elongated muzzle and a long, 60-centimeter tongue help it in hunting. When an anteater sticks its nose into an anthill, it begins to quickly work with its tongue: in one minute, the tongue protrudes and retracts 160 times. And since the anteater's saliva is sticky, ants stick to it - so it can eat about 30,000 insects per day.

Another enemy of ants is the antlion. This beautiful insect, similar to a dragonfly, feeds on pollen, and the enemy of ants is its larva. She makes a funnel out of tiny grains of sand, and she hides in its neck. An ant that lands on the slope of a funnel inevitably rolls straight into the lion's mouth.

Predatory antlion larva

Antlion trap in sand

However, ants do not always give themselves offense. They know how to defend themselves using poison - formic acid. With their jaws they can even bite through the skin of a person or large animal. Ants also know how to pretend to be dead in case of danger. But the main defense of ants is their number. Even after a fire, several ants remain alive.

Self-test questions

1. Why are ants harmful?
2. How are ants useful?
3. Which animal is a “cow” for ants?
4. Why was an insect similar to a dragonfly called an antlion?

Life of ants

Due to the huge number of species, the life of these insects has a direct impact on biogenesis. By forming anthills, they intensively loosen the soil, the roots of the plants are saturated with moisture and oxygen. At the same time, ants nourish the soil with various useful substances.

Diet

Each type of ant has its own feeding characteristics, so it is simply impossible to single out specific food. Insects feed on food items of animal or plant origin.

For proper development of larvae, protein is needed, the main source of which is dead insects, the remains of various animals and partially digested food left over from the imago.

House ants feed on gelatin, various dairy products, or leftovers from egg dishes. The queen eats protein food supplied by the individuals who care for her. Carbohydrates are obtained from honeydew and the fluid secreted by aphids.

Ants are capable of forming large farms from aphids. Then they “graze” them and guarantee protection from other inhabitants. Thus, the ants independently provide themselves with food. Read more about what ants eat here.

What does the ant “menu” in nature consist of:

• Nuts, seeds and juices of green plants are the basis of the diet.
• Some species breed entire colonies of mushrooms in their own nests.
• Various insects with caterpillars are also included in the diet.
• The menu of harvester ants includes dry fruits, various seeds, and grain crops. About a kilogram of nutritious food is prepared for the winter period - this is enough for the whole family.
• Leaf-cutter ants feed on leaves, storing them for the winter. The leaves are chewed and stored in this form in special chambers. After some time, mushrooms appear on them, which become food for the whole family.
• House ants are omnivores and can easily profit from a variety of foods, including food waste.

When it gets very cold, insects hibernate and stop feeding completely. But there are species that continue to lead an active life in winter, surviving on reserves made in the summer.

How does the reproduction process occur?

Reproduction occurs 2 times a year in two different ways:

• The female leaves her family, taking several workers. She then forms a new family.
• The female goes on a mating flight, where she is fertilized by males living in another anthill. After fertilization, the female lays eggs, and when they mature, a group of worker ants is formed. While waiting for new workers to mature, the queen feeds on the remains of her own wings.

Read more about how ants reproduce in our next article.

Insect development

Ants go through several stages of development - an egg, from which a larva hatches, and a pupa, which turns into an imago or adult. The queen mates only once in her entire life. The sperm obtained from the male is used by the female throughout the entire period.

Stages of ant development:

1. The queen lays eggs, from which larvae emerge. Since they practically do not move, workers are responsible for their nutrition. There are four stages of molting, after which the larva stops feeding.
2. By excreting the contents of its own intestines, it becomes a pupa.
3. After completing the pupal stage, other individuals help the former larva emerge from the cocoon, since the young ant cannot do this on its own.

You can see how an ant develops in the following video:

Where do they live?

Ants are found on all continents. Insects live in different climatic zones. They are found not only in mid-latitudes, but also in deserts, as well as Antarctica and the Arctic.

Often ant nests can be found in the ground, rotten wood, under various objects that lie on the soil. There are species that do not build homes, preferring to attack and capture others.

There are species that prefer living next to humans - for example, in a garden or house.

Construction of an anthill

Most species are engaged in the construction of complex and large nests, but there are also those who lead a nomadic lifestyle and do not organize permanent housing. There are both underground anthills and tree houses.

During construction, soil, plant matter that is carefully selected, and many other “building” materials are used. Complex nests necessarily consist of a structure that ensures constant and optimal ventilation, air humidity and other important indicators.

You can see how ants build an anthill in the following video:

Natural habitats of ants

If we take into account all types of ants, and there are more than a thousand of them, then they are found on almost all continents and in all climatic zones. Therefore, they are found both in deserts and in the Arctic and Antarctic conditions. In cold climates, ants hibernate in winter.

Their nests can be seen in rotten wood, in the soil, and also under various objects lying on the ground. Some species do not build nests for themselves, but prefer to take over others. Many species prefer to live near humans.

What are ants for?

Insects can be very beneficial in the garden. The main advantages of living on the site of ants are:

• A huge number of passages are formed in the soil through which insects move. As a result, the soil is saturated with oxygen and moisture, and the development of saprophytic fungi begins. This creates ideal conditions for the growth of various plants, including very “capricious” ones.
• Caterpillars, slugs, larvae and pupae are destroyed, which negatively affect the growth and development of vegetable and garden crops.
• The soil is saturated with various nutrients. This becomes possible thanks to the vital activity of ants.

What damage do ants cause?

Insects can cause rapid proliferation of aphids, as they prefer to feed on the waste products of this pest. And aphids can destroy most of the crop.

Ants secrete a special secretion called formic acid. If this substance enters the human body in large quantities, it can cause allergies. In severe cases, anaphylactic shock occurs, and if an antihistamine is not administered in a timely manner, there is a risk of death.

When settling in a person’s home, ants can pose a great danger. Not only do they eat food and cause discomfort, but they also carry diseases (such as typhus, diphtheria, etc.).

Where do pests come from in the house/garden?

Insects often settle in a person’s house, since it is always warm and dry there, and there is always food. The main reasons for the appearance of ants in human housing are:

• The weather gets cold outside, it starts to rain, etc.
• Scout ants discovered free access to food in the room - for example, a constantly filled trash can, unwashed dishes with food leftovers, crumbs on the table, etc.
• There are a large number of dark, hidden and inaccessible places in the room where no one will disturb pests.

You can notice ants in the garden as soon as warm weather sets in. Having found a suitable place for themselves, insects try to settle as densely as possible throughout the entire territory.

Ants can come to the site from the nearest forest or planting. Often pests migrate from a neighboring area where conditions are unsuitable for them. Ants settle in the garden under the roots, in tree cuts, in beds and in the ground.

Small groups often move from one place to another in search of food and territory for permanent residence. A lot of green vegetation has a beneficial effect on the high fertility of insects.

How to find an anthill?

Garden ants, unlike their forest counterparts, do not form large and noticeable nests. Finding an anthill can be a big problem, especially if there are no characteristic mounds on the site.

Most often, small holes form in the ground next to a fence or near a garden path, the blind area of ​​a garden house or the base of a greenhouse. Nearby there are characteristic sand mounds.

Over time, the number of residents in the nest increases. Consequently, more and more holes appear in the ground. If you notice swarms of pests in the area, conduct a thorough inspection of the entire area.

It is more difficult to find an ant nest in a house or apartment. They live in dark, hard-to-reach places, often in interfloor ceilings. To find the permanent habitat of house ants, you need to monitor their movement. Insects often walk in columns and carry food supplies, building materials, etc. into their nests.

Damage from insects

Despite all the benefits that these individuals bring, they do not always set up their homes correctly. Sometimes this is done close to the roots of plants, which causes serious damage to the root system. This risk is more often relevant in garden plots than in forests.

Ants love aphids very much, because they bring milk to their diet. Therefore, they protect these insects. Aphids cause damage to plants, so summer residents try to remove ant colonies from their plots.

Note! In conclusion, I would like to give advice to summer residents. It is not wise to get rid of anthills so that there are fewer aphids in the garden. It is better to get rid of the aphids themselves, then the ants will only bring benefits to the site.

What are ants afraid of?

It is important to know what ants are afraid of in order to avoid their appearance or drive them out of the area in a short time. For example, ants will never settle where there is a pungent odor that they literally cannot stand.

Smells

Insects react sharply to strong odors. The simplest and most effective way to combat them is to place aromatic herbs (for example, wormwood, anise or sage) near the nest. Leftover food is also suitable - garlic, herring, tomato leaves.

Kerosene becomes the most effective and drastic remedy. It can be used to generously water an anthill or a place where pests have often been seen. They won't appear there anymore.

Ultrasound

You can fight ants using ultrasound. Today on sale there is a small device that is plugged into an outlet. The device produces unique high-frequency sound waves that are not perceptible to the human ear. These sounds have a detrimental effect on the nervous system of pests.

Before using this device, find out how it affects pets, if you have any. Otherwise, you can harm the health of your pet.

Temperature

Insects never live where the temperature is uncomfortable for them. Ants are heat-loving creatures. With the onset of cold weather, they wait out the winter inside the nests. In the spring, when a comfortable temperature is established, they return to an active lifestyle.

Optimal temperature for ants: +23…+25˚С. If the thermometer drops by 3-5 degrees, the insects do not die, but become inactive.

Nutrition

Ants are insects with a very extensive diet. Insects do not need fats for growth, development and vital functions. The basis of their diet is proteins and carbohydrates. Protein food is necessary for growing larvae, and carbohydrate food for adults.

Nutrition

Ants can eat:

• invertebrates (mainly insects);
• honeydew and honeydew;
• plant juice;
• berries and fruits;
• seeds;
• mushrooms;
• nectar.

As for animal food, ants can both hunt insects and feed on carrion. When insects hunt, they use their jaws and sting. The ant's bite is quite painful, and some species inject a toxic substance into the victim's body.

House ants eat everything that people leave - from bread crumbs and grains of sugar to sausage scraps and drops of vegetable oil.

Ways to control ant pests

Getting rid of ants is difficult. If one anthill is destroyed, they can easily move to another place and make a new nest. Take control measures immediately after detecting ants; the choice of ant repellents is quite wide.

Destruction of an anthill

To ensure that ants leave your home, destroy it properly. It is not enough to simply cover the top with earth or break the ground part, since insects will restore the destroyed places, and it will not be possible to expel the “guests”.

The anthill is completely dug out. Work carefully as the ants can attack and bite hard. The nest is often located deep underground, so you have to dig out a fairly large area.

Remove the part where the uterus is located. The rest of the ants will follow her. It is important to try to remove the anthill as far as possible from your garden, otherwise the insects will soon return again.

Repellents

You can use a variety of repellents. The most effective is vinegar. It has a pungent and strong odor that pests do not like. Simply pour vinegar into a spray bottle. Then spray all the pests that come into view.

It is recommended to use apple cider vinegar or white vinegar as they have insecticidal and fungicidal properties that are deadly to ants.

You can also spray the product in places where insects were most often seen. If you find a nest next to it, you can spill vinegar. This is much more effective and kills ants faster.

Obstacles and interference

A small trench is made next to the anthill, into which a cut thin tube is placed and filled with water. The insects simply cannot overcome this obstacle and will be forced to leave their nest.

Make sure there is always a groove filled with water around the nest. This trap is needed until all the insects disappear.

Use of pesticides

Today there are a large number of different pesticides designed specifically to combat ants. The most effective chemicals are:

• Ant-eater. It is found in powder and clear liquid form. Diluted in the proportion of 1 ml of the drug per 10 liters of water. This amount is enough to treat an area of ​​5 square meters. m. The product does not accumulate in the soil and does not harm worms.
• Muratsid. Used for treating garden paths, beds and flower beds. Available in the form of an aqueous emulsion and powder. The product is diluted in the following proportions: 1 ml of the drug per 10 liters of liquid. You can process cultivated plants without harming the crop.
• Ant. The granular preparation allows you to quickly get rid of black ants. No need to dissolve in water. The drug is scattered over the soil at the rate of 3 granules per 1 square meter. m.

When working with toxic drugs, use personal protective equipment. A gauze bandage is required.

Application of insecticides

The use of insecticides allows you to quickly and permanently get rid of garden ants. Today there are many similar drugs. The most effective are:

• Diazinon. The drug blocks the production of an enzyme that is required for the normal functioning of the insect's nervous system. Convulsions, paralysis begin, and the death of the pests occurs. Plants absorb the chemical and retain it for up to 3 weeks. At this time, reliable protection against insects is provided.
• Chlorpyrifos. After insects enter the body, the nervous system is paralyzed, which leads to death. The drug remains effective for 1-2 months. Retains in soil for up to 4 months.

The drugs are used strictly according to the instructions. Exceeding the dosage allowed by the manufacturer is prohibited.

Folk remedies

A variety of folk methods are used to combat ants. The most effective means are:

• Millet. The cereal is soaked in boiling water, then mixed with honey or jam. The resulting mass is laid out next to the anthills.
• Semolina. Cereals scatter near the nests or just around the area. To attract pests, you can mix semolina with powdered sugar.
• Cinnamon. Spicy cinnamon is scattered in large quantities along ant paths and next to the nest. You can also use cinnamon sticks, which are placed in old logs where an anthill was noticed.
• Coffee. Aromatic coffee is scattered next to an anthill. You can also sprinkle the areas where pests are most often seen.
• Mustard. The pungent aroma of mustard repels pests. Powder is scattered in large quantities near insect habitats.
• Garlic. Ants simply cannot stand the aroma of garlic. Cut garlic cloves are placed in habitats and directly into the anthill.
• Pepper. Ground black and red pepper is used. Chili is also suitable. The spice is scattered near anthills and in places where pests move.

Ant Reproduction

Ants reproduce 2 times a year, and 2 methods are available for them.

The first method is based on the fact that the young female takes with her a certain number of workers and leaves her family to form a new family. As a result of the second method, the female goes on a mating flight, where she is fertilized by males from another anthill. After fertilization, the female lays eggs, after which, after they mature, she has a group of working individuals. The males die after some time. Until the workers mature, the queen feeds on the remains of the muscles of her wings. Females and workers are born from fertilized eggs, and males from unfertilized eggs.

Ants are considered harmless insects until they come into the sight of a person in the home. Although even in a home they cannot cause harm, except perhaps by their movements in search of food. Therefore, they should not be exterminated, since they destroy many harmful insects.

Ant bite

Ants and their bites usually do not pose a great danger to humans. The only exceptions are cases of individual intolerance.

Signs

After the ant's vinegar, insect poison (formic acid) gets onto the skin. This substance can cause an unpleasant and quite strong feeling of itching.

At the site of the vinegar, the skin turns red and a small blister may appear, but this happens extremely rarely. Most often, the area around the bite simply turns red and begins to itch very much.

Danger

The greatest danger is an allergic reaction. In the most severe cases, anaphylactic shock occurs.

The main signs of an allergy to an ant bite:

• severe swelling;
• blisters;
• redness of the skin;
• severe pain in the bite area;
• nausea;
• headache;
• dyspnea;
• loss of consciousness.

What to do?

If the ant appears slightly red after using vinegar and is only concerned about itching, do not worry. Symptoms disappear on their own after a couple of hours.

In case of severe itching, in order to get rid of it, it is recommended to treat the bite site with vodka (any medicinal infusion with alcohol is also suitable). A baking soda compress is also beneficial - it relieves discomfort.

If signs of an allergy appear, take an antihistamine immediately. If this remedy does not alleviate the condition and only worsens are observed, seek help from a doctor.

Ants provide great benefits to the environment. But if they appear in the garden, they can destroy the crop. Once settled in a house, insects cause severe discomfort to humans and can spoil food. Therefore, it is important to start pest control on time and not stop until they are completely destroyed.