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• Ants are the most commonly found insect on planet Earth. There are an estimated 20,000 species worldwide.

  In May 2009, Texas agricultural officials released a new species of the South American phorid fly, the natural enemy of fire ants, which turns fire ants into zombies, in an attempt to control the pest which does $1 billion in damage each year.Los Angeles Times: Latest pest-control attempt: Turn fire ants into zombies (May 15, 2009) National Geographic: PHOTOS: "Zombie" Ants Controlled, Decapitated by Flies (May 15, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Related to bees and wasps
  2. Body is made up of a head, thorax and abdomen
  3. Sizes range from 0.75 to 52 mm
  4. 6 legs
  5. 2 antennae
  6. Ants do not have lungs
  7. Queen ant typically lives 10-20 years
  8. Worker ants typically live 1-3 years
  9. Can carry 10-20 times their own body weight
  10. Antarctica is the only major continent ants do not inhabit

• Zombie Fire Ants

  The South American phorid fly (Pseudacteon obtusus) injects fire ants with their larvae. When the larvae mature, they attack and destroy ant brains, causing the ant to wander aimlessly. After two weeks, the ant's head falls off and a new phorid fly emerges.Los Angeles Times: Latest pest-control attempt: Turn fire ants into zombies (May 15, 2009) National Geographic: PHOTOS: "Zombie" Ants Controlled, Decapitated by Flies (May 15, 2009)

• Scientific Classification

  1. Kingdom: Animalia
  2. Phylum: Arthropoda
  3. Class: Insecta
  4. Order: Hymenoptera
  5. Suborder: Apocrita
  6. Superfamily: Vespoidea
  7. Family: Formicidae

• Body and Behavior

  The Ants body consists of three parts, the head, thorax and abdomen. They also have an exoskeleton, two antennae, six legs and powerful mandibles.

  In every species there are three common types, the Queen, male drone workers and sterile female workers. Since Ants live in colonies, they are considered social insects. Ant colonies can be found in Ant-hills. These hills usually consist of sand, dirt or clay.

• Types of Ants

  • Acrobat Ants
  • Argentine Ants
  • Big-headed Ants
  • Carpenter Ants
  • Crazy Ants
  • Ghost Ants
  • Odorous House Ants
  • Pavement Ants
  • Pharaoh Ants
  • Red Ants
  • Thief Ants

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Mosquito | Cockroaches | How to Get Rid of Ants | How to Get Rid of Mice | How to Get Rid of Roaches | How to Get Rid of Gnats | How to Kill Wasps | Ant from Mars | How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants | How to Get Rid of Termites | How to Get Rid of Silverfish | How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes | How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles

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