Ant

Class	Insecta
Order	Hymenoptera
Family	Formicidae
Conservation Concerns	45 species are at risk due to habitat destruction.
Range	Almost all parts of the world; most abundant in the tropics.
Habitat	Almost all parts of the world; most abundant in the tropics.
Feeding Habits	Most ants are omnivores; they eat plant juices, seeds, fruits, other insects, and honeydew, a sugary liquid secreted by aphids.
Offspring	Only queen ants lay eggs. Ants pass through egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages.
Life Span	Less than six months on average; some worker and queen ants live for several years.
Did You Know	Leaf cutter ants grow fungus for food. They collect plant material to fertilize the fungus in their nests.
	Male ants die soon after breeding with the queen ant.
	Most queen ants have wings that they tear off after mating.
	Ants use scent trails to find their way back to their nest.
	Army ants travel in long, narrow columns in search of prey.