The bullet ant is said to have the most painful sting in the world! 7. Their ability to exploit resources may bring ants into conflict with humans, however, as they can damage crops and invade buildings. Ant species community composition can serve as a useful indicator of environmental quality. Ranging from the ant you might find scuttling across your picnic to the ants building underground fortresses in the rainforest, to flying ants! There are many types of carpenter ants throughout the U.S. measuring in size from one-quarter inch (about the width of a pencil) for a worker carpenter ant to three-quarters of an inch (about the size of a quarter) for a queen carpenter ant. Many species of plants depend on ants to disperse their seeds. Many human cultures make use of ants in cuisine, medication and rituals. Ants are among the most successful of insects, outnumbering all other individual animals combined. Humans use formic acid as a food preservative, since it's an antibacterial substance. They have been around since the days of the dinosaurs and inhabit just about every corner of Earth. They usually use it alone to fight off predators or disinfect their nest. An Interesting and Useful Chemical. Carpenter Ants. Many ant species produce a poisonous substance within their venom gland called formic acid. Wiping a surface with vinegar can disrupt the chemical trail ants use to march in a line. Much like humans like moving into a clean apartment, ants use this poisonous formic acid to sanitize a … Formic acid is an irritating chemical present in the sprayed venom of some ant species and in the secretion released from some stinging nettles. These insects can cause significant damage to your house. [8] These parallels with human societies have long been an inspiration and subject of study. Some species are valued in their role as biological pest control agents. Research on the impact of ants on their local environment has revealed they play an important role. The problem is, sometimes humans don’t want their help. Their presence in nature is essential to the well-being of the garden and environment. 2. It's dangerous at high concentrations, but at low concentrations it's very useful. The average mass of an adult human is about 65 kilograms while the average mass of an ant is approximately $4 \times 10^{-3}$ grams. Many human cultures make use of ants in cuisine, medication, and rituals. Instead, ants have achieved a sustainable balance that humans would do well to observe, says Schultz. Carpenter ants get their name because they build their nests in wood. (Myrmecochory) 6. There are over 12,000 ant species worldwide. Ant societies have division of labour, communication between individuals, and an ability to solve complex problems. Check out our ten favourite facts about ants that are guaranteed to blow your mind… 1. Shutterstock. 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