Ants Ants are tiny powerhouses that live in groups called colonies which are led by queens Colonies range in size from a few dozen ants to many millions Scientists have identified more than 12 000 species of ants They vary in size color and behavior Some are fierce biters Some are great builders Some are destructive while others help rid places of
Ants work together growing their colonies ST through hard work amazing abilities and sometimes extreme defenses M XTREME FACT There are trillions of ants worldwide Only extremely cold places such as lceland Greenland and Antarctica do not have
Body Parts Like all insects ants have three body parts head thorax and abdomen The thorax or middle region of an ant s body holds all six of its jointed legs Head Ants are nearsighted Their eyes only see things very near their face Some species are even blind The bent over or elbowed antennae have excellent scent sensors for smelling Ants use their antennae to find food and to recognize friends and enemies An ant's mandibles are used to dig bite and carry Its mouth has a tongue for sucking up liquid
In front of the abdomen is the petiole This narrow waist section allows the ant to bend and move through tight twisting spaces The heart and stomach are in the ant's abdomen Ants have two stomachs Some ants have a stinger at the back of their abdomen Thorax Ants can hear with their legs detecting vibrations in the ground Ants have clawed feet that allow them to crawl up trees or walls or even walk upside
