Calculation: This is how many ants there are on the ground

The world population is expected to reach eight billion in the next few months. If this number is compared to the number of ants on the planet, then it is not impressive. According to Reuters, new research estimates that there are 2.5 million ants for every person on Earth.

The industrious and social insects have flourished magnificently since the age of the dinosaurs. The oldest fossil of ants dates back to about 100 million years ago.

“It is clear that ants play a major role in almost every ecosystem on Earth,” says veteran entomologist Patrick Schulthes, who works at both the University of Würzburg in Germany and the University of Hong Kong.

12,000 known species

He played a leading role in the new research published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“Ants are very important for the nutrient cycle, the breakdown of organic matter, the dispersal of plant seeds, as well as for soil fertility,” says the new research report.

He also states that there are over 12,000 known species and that ants are a very diverse group of insects with different functions.

It is usually black, brown or red. They vary in size from one millimeter up to about three centimeters. They thrive best in soil, leaves, or plants that have begun to rot. Sometimes they find their way into people’s kitchens.

Specialized groups

The ant, which is closely related to bees and wasps, lives in colonies consisting of millions of individuals.

They are divided into groups that specialize in roles such as workers, soldiers, and queens. The workers, all female, look after the queen and her offspring.

Male ants mate with the queen and die soon afterwards.

“Ants can be very annoying, but think about how much material they move around, which is what benefits us humans. It’s important for different biological processes,” says Patrick Schulthes.

A researcher in the field, E.O. Wilson, called them “the little creatures that make the world work.”