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For a more comprehensive list, see the List of ants topics.

Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related families of wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. Today, more than 12,000 species are classified.

Highly organised colonies may consist of millions of ants; these are mostly sterile females ("workers", "soldiers", and other castes), with some fertile males ("drones"), and one or more fertile females ("queens"). Able to occupy and use a wide area of land to support itself, ant colonies are sometimes described as superorganisms as they appear to operate as unified entities.^[1]

Ants have colonised almost every landmass on Earth. The only places lacking indigenous ants are remote or inhospitable islands. Ants dominate most ecosystems, and form 15–20% of the terrestrial animal biomass.^[2]^{[broken footnote]} Their success has been attributed to their social structure, ability to modify their habitats, tap resources and defend themselves. Their long co-evolution with other species has led to mimetic, commensal, parasitic and mutualistic relationships.^[3]

Ant societies have division of labour, communication between individuals and an ability to solve complex problems.^[4]^{[broken footnote]} These parallels with human societies have long been an inspiration and subject of study for man. Many human cultures make use of ants in cuisine, medication and rituals. Some species are valued in their role as biological pest control agents.^[5]^{[broken footnote]} However, the ability to exploit resources brings ants into conflict with humans as they can, for example, damage crops and invade buildings. The accidental introduction of species into new areas and a tendency to sting has made some ants major pests.^[6]^{[broken footnote]}

Myrmecology (from Greek: μύρμεξ, myrmex, "ant"; and λόγος, logos, "knowledge") is the scientific study of ants, a branch of entomology. Ants are often chosen as a study group to answer questions on the evolution of social systems. All ants are highly eusocial.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and introduction to ants:

Essence of ants

Main articles: Ants and Myrmecology

Ant colony

Biological classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Suborder: Apocrita
Superfamily: Vespoidea
Family: Formicidae (family authority: Latreille, 1809)

Kinds of ants

Subfamilies

Cladogram of ant subfamilies:

History of ants

Main article: History of ants

Basic myrmecology concepts

Myrmecologists

Ants lists

Main article: List of ants topics

References

^ Oster GF, Wilson EO (1978). Caste and Ecology in the Social Insects. Princeton University Press, Princeton. p. pp. 21–22. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
^ Cite error: The named reference schultz was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Hölldobler & Wilson (1990), p. 471
^ Cite error: The named reference SANdisk was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference HolldoblerWilsonAnts3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference pests was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

External links

[1] Oster GF, Wilson EO (1978). Caste and Ecology in the Social Insects. Princeton University Press, Princeton. p. pp. 21–22. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)

[schultz-2] Cite error: The named reference schultz was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[TheAntsRelations-3] Hölldobler & Wilson (1990), p. 471

[SANdisk-4] Cite error: The named reference SANdisk was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[HolldoblerWilsonAnts3-5] Cite error: The named reference HolldoblerWilsonAnts3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[pests-6] Cite error: The named reference pests was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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 Ants have colonised almost every landmass on Earth. The only places lacking indigenous ants are remote or inhospitable islands. Ants dominate most ecosystems, and form 15–20% of the terrestrial animal biomass.<ref name="schultz"/><sup>[[Wikipedia:Footnotes|[broken footnote]]]</sup> Their success has been attributed to their social structure, ability to modify their habitats, tap resources and defend themselves. Their long [[co-evolution]] with other species has led to [[mimicry|mimetic]], [[commensalism|commensal]], [[parasitism|parasitic]] and [[mutualistic]] relationships.<ref name=TheAntsRelations>Hölldobler & Wilson (1990), p. 471</ref>
-Ant societies have [[division of labour]], communication between individuals and an ability to [[Problem solving|solve complex problems]].<ref name="SANdisk"/><sup>[[Wikipedia:Footnotes|[broken footnote]]]</sup> These parallels with [[Civilization|human societies]] have long been an inspiration and subject of study for man. Many human cultures make use of ants in cuisine, medication and rituals. Some species are valued in their role as [[biological pest control]] agents.<ref name="HolldoblerWilsonAnts3"/><sup>[[Wikipedia:Footnotes|[broken footnote]]]</sup> However, the ability to exploit resources brings ants into conflict with humans as they can, for example, damage crops and invade buildings. The accidental introduction of species into new areas and a tendency to sting has made some ants major pests.<ref name="pests"/>
+Ant societies have [[division of labour]], communication between individuals and an ability to [[Problem solving|solve complex problems]].<ref name="SANdisk"/><sup>[[Wikipedia:Footnotes|[broken footnote]]]</sup> These parallels with [[Civilization|human societies]] have long been an inspiration and subject of study for man. Many human cultures make use of ants in cuisine, medication and rituals. Some species are valued in their role as [[biological pest control]] agents.<ref name="HolldoblerWilsonAnts3"/><sup>[[Wikipedia:Footnotes|[broken footnote]]]</sup> However, the ability to exploit resources brings ants into conflict with humans as they can, for example, damage crops and invade buildings. The accidental introduction of species into new areas and a tendency to sting has made some ants major pests.<ref name="pests"/><sup>[[Wikipedia:Footnotes|[broken footnote]]]</sup>
 '''[[Myrmecology]]''' (from Greek: μύρμεξ, ''myrmex'', "ant"; and  λόγος, ''logos'', "knowledge") is the [[science|scientific]] study of [[ant]]s, a branch of [[entomology]]. Ants are often chosen as a study group to answer questions on the evolution of social systems. All ants are highly [[eusocial]].