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Cold Facts You Didn't Know About Ants Ants are some of the most fascinating creatures in the world, and they have been studied extensively by scientists and researchers. Here are 16 cold facts you may not know about ants: 1. There are over 12,000 known species of ant in the world, and they can be found in almost every environment. 2. Ants are social insects, and they live in colonies that can range in size from a few dozen individuals to millions. 3. The queen ant is responsible for laying all of the eggs in the colony, and she can live for up to 30 years. 4. Ants communicate with each other through chemical signals, which they detect with their antennae. 5. Ants have the ability to carry objects that are many times their own weight, due to their strength and a special adhesive substance on their feet. 6. Ants are often called "ecosystem engineers," because they play a crucial role in the ecosystems in which they live. 7. Ants help to aerate the soil, which allows water and oxygen to penetrate and helps other organisms to thrive. 8. Ants also help to control the populations of other insects, which helps to prevent crop damage and diseases. 9. Some species of ants are known to farm and protect other insects, such as aphids, for their sweet secretions. 10 Certain species of ants even use their own bodies as bridges to traverse gaps in their environment. 11. The largest recorded ant colony was found in a Japanese garden, and it contained over 300 million ants. 12. Ants have been known to wage war against neighboring colonies, and they will sometimes use chemical weapons to do so. 13. Ants have been used as an ingredient in traditional medicines for centuries, due to their antibacterial and antifungal properties. 14. In some cultures, ants are considered a delicacy and are used in cooking and as a snack. 15. The bullet ant, found in South America, has the most painful sting of any insect in the world. 16. There is a type of fungus that targets ants, known as Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, which infects ants and causes them to climb to a high point where the fungus can spread spores and infect more ants. Ants may be small, but they have a big impact on the world around us. With their fascinating behavior and abilities, they continue to intrigue and astound scientists and people everywhere.
