Changes

[[Image:Harvester-ants.jpg|thumb|205px|right|19th century [[Europe|European]] naturalists were wrong about ant behavior. The [[Bible]] was correct about ant behavior.<ref>http://ed5015.tripod.com/BWilliamsvsAnon71to73.htm</ref>]]

[[Image:Harvester-ants.jpg|thumb|205px|right|19th century [[Europe]]an naturalists were wrong about ant behavior. The [[Bible]] was correct about ant behavior.<ref>http://ed5015.tripod.com/BWilliamsvsAnon71to73.htm</ref>]]

'''Ants''' are social [[insects]] that live in highly organized colonies that include workers, drones, and [[queen]]s. Considered a highly successful insect, ants have colonized all parts of the world except for [[Greenland]], [[Antarctica]] and [[Iceland]]. Ants are classified part of the ''Hymenoptera'' family of species with [[bee]]s and [[wasp]]s and this similarity is evident in their similar social structure. There are over 12,000 known species of ants in the world [http://atbi.biosci.ohio-state.edu:210/hymenoptera/tsa.sppcount?the_taxon=Formicidae].

'''Ants''' are social [[insects]] that live in highly organized colonies that include workers, drones, and [[queen]]s. Considered a highly successful insect, ants have colonized all parts of the world except for [[Greenland]], [[Antarctica]] and [[Iceland]]. Ants are classified part of the ''Hymenoptera'' family of species with [[bee]]s and [[wasp]]s and this similarity is evident in their similar social structure. There are over 12,000 known species of ants in the world [http://atbi.biosci.ohio-state.edu:210/hymenoptera/tsa.sppcount?the_taxon=Formicidae].

Highly organized, ant colonies are coordinated by the release of [[pheromones]] - chemical signals passed between individuals that allow information to be passed around the colony. Pheremones can be used for such diverse purposes as: marking trails, identifying which task group an ant belongs to, triggering alarms, and even spreading confusion among invading colonies.

Highly organized, ant colonies are coordinated by the release of [[pheromones]] - chemical signals passed between individuals that allow information to be passed around the colony. Pheremones can be used for such diverse purposes as: marking trails, identifying which task group an ant belongs to, triggering alarms, and even spreading confusion among invading colonies.

Most ant colonies have male and female ants in highly specialised roles, such as queen, worker, etc. Some species of ant do not have any males at all, and reproduce asexually<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7998931.stm BBC News: Ants]</ref>.

Most ant colonies have male and female ants in highly specialised roles, such as queen, worker, etc. Some species of ant do not have any males at all, and reproduce asexually.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7998931.stm BBC News: Ants]</ref>

== Relationship with humans ==

== Relationship with humans ==

== Intelligent design ==

== Intelligent design ==

Creation scientists see the complex social behavior of ants to be evidence for an [[intelligent design]]er. <ref>[http://www.christiananswers.net/kids/insects.html Incredible insects of the rain forest]</ref>

Creation scientists see the complex social behavior of ants to be evidence for an [[intelligent design]]er.<ref>[http://www.christiananswers.net/kids/insects.html Incredible insects of the rain forest]</ref>

== Ants in fiction and the Bible ==

== Ants in fiction and the Bible ==

Observe that the Bible gets the gender of worker ants correctly whereas Aesop's ant character was originally personified using the incorrect masculine pronouns.

Observe that the Bible gets the gender of worker ants correctly whereas Aesop's ant character was originally personified using the incorrect masculine pronouns.

[[Category: Insects]]

[[Category:Insects]]

==References==

==References==

{{reflist|2}}

{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==

==External links==

*[http://www.ento.csiro.au/education/insects/hymenoptera.html Hymenoptera: ants, bees and wasps]

*[http://www.ento.csiro.au/education/insects/hymenoptera.html Hymenoptera: ants, bees and wasps]