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Ants
Any member of approximately 8,000 species of the social insect family Formicidae. Ants are found worldwide but are especially common in hot climates. They range from 0.1 to 1 in. (2-25 mm) long and are usually yellow, brown, red, or black. Ants eat both plant and animal substances; some even "farm" fungi for food, cultivating them in their nests, or "milk" aphids. Ant colonies consist of three castes (queens, males, and workers, incl. soldiers) interacting in a highly complex society paralleling that of the honeybees. Well-known ant species are the carpenter ants of N. America, the voracious army ants of tropical America, and the stinging fire ant.