Arthropods Daily – Issue No. 62

This article provides information about ants, including their etymology, taxonomy and evolution, distribution and diversity, morphology, life cycle, and their relationship with humans. The word "ant" is derived from Middle English and Old English, while the family name Formicidae comes from the Latin word "formīca." Ants belong to the order Hymenoptera and evolved from a lineage within stinging wasps. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with species found on all continents except Antarctica. There are over 13,800 known species of ants, with the greatest diversity in the tropics. Ants have distinct morphological features, including geniculate antennae and a petiole. Their life cycle involves eggs, larvae, pupae, and adult stages. Ants perform ecological roles that benefit humans, such as suppressing pest populations and aerating the soil, but they can also become nuisances and cause economic losses. Some ants have toxic venom and are of medical importance, while others have cultural significance, such as their use in indigenous surgical practices and seed harvesting.