# Ant (*Formica rufa*) Ants are tiny insects that live in large groups called colonies. They work together to find food and build intricate tunnels underground. Ants come in many colors and sizes, and they are very strong for their size. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests, Grasslands, Urban areas - **Also known as:** Ants ![Ant](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425794/objects/5865.jpg) ## Appearance The Ant is a reddish-brown insect, often with a darker abdomen. It has a segmented body, six jointed legs, and prominent antennae for sensing. Unlike some other insects, worker ants do not possess wings, making their smooth, industrious movement distinctive. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Formicidae - **Genus:** Formica ## Interesting facts - Ants don't have ears; they feel ground vibrations with special sensors on their legs. - Queen ants can live for decades, making them one of the longest-living insects! - Some ants 'farm' tiny insects called aphids for their sweet honeydew snack! - When floods hit, some ants can link together to form a living, floating raft! ## Special abilities - **Acid Spray Defense:** Ant can spray formic acid from its abdomen because of a special gland, that helps them defend their nest and stun prey. - **Super Strength:** Ant has incredibly strong muscles that help them carry objects many times their own body weight back to the colony. - **Architects of Mounds:** Ant can build huge, dome-shaped nests from plant material and soil that helps protect their colony from weather and predators. - **Chemical Communicators:** Ant has the ability to lay scent trails because of pheromone glands, that helps them guide other ants to food sources. ## Measurements & details - **Size:** 4-11 mm - **Lifespan:** 365-7300 days - **Leg Count:** 6 - **Colony Size:** 400000 ## Diet & Feeding Ants are resourceful eaters, enjoying sugary honeydew from aphids and hunting small insects. - **Primary Foods:** Honeydew, Caterpillars, Spiders, Other invertebrates, Plant sap - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [European Green Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-green-woodpecker) (*Picus viridis*) — Specializes in digging up ants. - **Eaten by:** [Brown Bear](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-bear) (*Ursus arctos*) — Raids ant nests for food. - **Symbiotic with:** Black Bean Aphid (*Aphis fabae*) — Ants 'farm' aphids for honeydew. - **Eats:** Nun Moth (*Lymantria monacha*) — Ants hunt and eat its caterpillars. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Venomous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/venomous): Venomous organisms produce toxins that are injected into another animal, typically through a bite or sting. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch ants from a safe distance and avoid touching them to let them do their important work. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ant? Compare the antennae, waist segments, body proportions and size. Workers, queens and males of the same species can look surprisingly different. Ant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How big is Ant? 4-11 mm ### How long does Ant live? 365-7300 days ### What does Ant eat? Ants are resourceful eaters, enjoying sugary honeydew from aphids and hunting small insects. ### Where is Ant usually found? Forests, Grasslands, Urban areas ### How does Ant hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Ant have? 6 ### How large are Ant colonies? 400000 ## Where to spot - [Dallas World Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dallas-world-aquarium) — Texas, US · Aquarium - [Toledo Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/toledo-zoo) — Ohio, US · Zoo - [Belle Isle Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/belle-isle-aquarium) — US · Zoo - [New England Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/new-england-aquarium) — Massachusetts, US · Aquarium - [Waikiki Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/waikiki-aquarium) — Hawaii, US · Zoo - [Zoologická zahrada Děčín - Pastýřská stěna](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoologick-zahrada-d-n-past-sk-st-na) — Ústí nad Labem Region, CZ · Zoo [View all places to see Ant](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/ant) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Ant: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ant)