Why Ants Rule the World

[zengrifter]

Why Ants Rule the World

By Corey Binns
Special to LiveScience
08 May 2006



Count on ants to be the first uninvited guests to show up at a picnic. Their party-crashing feats show just how productive and important they are and hint at why they thrive in just about any habitat.

It hasn't always been an ant's world. Scientists estimate modern-day ants first evolved about 120 million years ago. But the fossil record suggests that ants at this time weren't the prevalent insect that they are today. Not until 60 million years later, when some ants adapted to the new world of flowering plants and diversified their diets, did the critters achieve ecological dominance.

Since then they've had a successful run of the planet.

...continued here - http://www.livescience.com/animalwor...ants_rule.html

[zengrifter]

Is the number of ants increasing? zg

[N&B]

100 Quadrillion ants can't be wrong.

Like that photo... reminds me of the sci-fi classic "THEM !".

[aslan]

Originally Posted by N&B

100 Quadrillion ants can't be wrong.

Like that photo... reminds me of the sci-fi classic "THEM !".

Makes one feel a bit antsy!

[HarryKuntz]

female ants do all of the work; males just spread their genes around.

"Males are little flying sperm missiles," said Alex Wild, an entomologist at the University of Arizona.



Sounds great, can i be an ant?

[aslan]

Originally Posted by HarryKuntz

female ants do all of the work; males just spread their genes around.

"Males are little flying sperm missiles," said Alex Wild, an entomologist at the University of Arizona.



Sounds great, can i be an ant?

Sounds like you already are except for the physical attributes. I'm sure you'll find a like minded colony somewhere if you keep looking. Of course, you do realize that once you mate, you die within two weeks.