Ants

Ants are common insects, but they have some unique capabilities. More than 10,000 known ant species occur around the world. Ants look much like termites, and the two are often confused—especially by nervous homeowners. Enthusiastically social insects, ants typically live in structured nest communities that may be located underground, in ground-level mounds, or in trees. Ants communicate and cooperate by using chemicals that can alert others to danger or lead them to a promising food source. They typically eat nectar, seeds, fungus, or insects. However, some species have diets that are more unusual.