Quck answer
Ants are the most numerous species on Earth, with an estimated 20 quadrillion individuals. This means that they outweigh all wild birds and mammals combined. Ants can be found in almost every part of the world and play an important role in many ecosystems, including soil health and nutrient cycling. Despite their small size, ants have a significant impact on the environment and are considered a keystone species. Understanding their behavior and ecology is crucial for maintaining the balance of many ecosystems.
Wild Animals
Ants make up more than 15,700 named species and subspecies, with many more still unknown to science. Dmitry Dolhikh/Shutterstock
Have you ever considered the number of ants that live on our planet? Probably not, but it is a question that has been asked.
Our study provides a rough answer. We estimate that there are approximately 20 quadrillion ants on Earth. That’s 20 thousand million million, or 20,000,000,000,000,000 (20 with 15 zeros) in numerical form.
Additionally, we estimate that all the ants on the planet weigh about 12 million tons (11 million metric tons) of dry carbon, which is more than the combined weight of all wild birds and mammals. It is also equal to about one-fifth of the total weight of humans.
As well as being an essential part of nature, ants play a crucial role. They aerate the soil, spread seeds, break down organic material, create habitats for other animals, and form a critical part of the food chain.
Estimating the number and mass of ants creates a vital starting point to monitor ant populations during environmental changes.
Many ant species, such as the Meranoplus ants from Malaysia, are crucial seed dispersers. Pavel Krasensky/Shutterstock
Counting Ants Worldwide
More than 15,700 named species and subspecies of ants exist, and many more are yet to be discovered by scientists. Ants’ high level of social organization has enabled them to colonize almost every ecosystem and region globally.
The incredible universality of ants has led many naturalists to contemplate the exact number of ants on Earth. However, these have mostly been educated guesses. Systematic, evidence-based estimates have been absent.
Our study involved analyzing 489 ant population studies conducted by fellow ant scientists worldwide. This included non-English literature in languages such as Spanish, French, German, Russian, Mandarin, and Portuguese.
The research covered all continents and significant habitats, including forests, deserts, grasslands, and cities. They used standardized methods for collecting and counting ants such as pitfall traps and leaf litter samples, which is often hard work.
A pitfall trap is a standard ant collection method for ants that crawl across the ground surface. Snowmanphotos/Shutterstock
From all this, we estimate that there are approximately 20 quadrillion ants on Earth. This figure is conservative but two to 20 times higher than previous estimates.
The earlier figures were based on a “top-down” approach that assumed ants represent about 1% of the world’s estimated insect population. In contrast, our “bottom-up” estimate is more reliable because it uses data on ants observed directly in the field and makes fewer assumptions.
Our next step was working out the total weight of all these ants. The mass of organisms is typically measured in terms of their carbon makeup. We estimated that 20 quadrillion average-sized ants correspond to a dry weight or “biomass” of approximately 12 million tons (11 million metric tons) of carbon.
This is more than the combined weight of all wild birds and mammals and approximately 20% of the total human biomass.
Carbon constitutes about half of an ant’s dry weight. If we included the weight of other bodily components, the total mass of the world’s ants would be even higher.
The distribution of ants on Earth’s surface is uneven, with a sixfold variation between habitats, and they are most abundant in tropical regions, according to research. Ant populations are particularly high in forests and arid regions, but less common in human-made habitats. The study’s data is unevenly distributed across geographic regions, and little is known about ant numbers in trees or underground. Ants provide vital ecosystem services for humans, with a recent study finding that they can be more effective than pesticides in helping farmers produce food. However, insect numbers are declining due to habitat destruction, chemical use, invasive species, and climate change. It is important to monitor ant populations, and citizen scientists can help investigate how they are faring in a changing environment.
FAQ
1. How many ants are there in the world?
There are estimated to be around 20 quadrillion ants in the world. This means that for every human, there are over a million ants!
2. How do ants contribute to the ecosystem?
Ants play a crucial role in the ecosystem. They help to aerate the soil, control pests, and distribute seeds. They are also an important food source for many animals.
3. Why do ants form colonies?
Ants form colonies to work together and improve their chances of survival. In a colony, each ant has a specific role and contributes to the success of the group.
4. What is the largest ant colony in the world?
The largest ant colony in the world is believed to be in Argentina, spanning over 3,700 miles. It is home to billions of ants and has been active for over 5,000 years.
5. How do ants communicate with each other?
Ants communicate with each other using chemicals called pheromones. They leave trails of pheromones to mark food sources and to guide other ants back to the colony.
6. Can ants be harmful to humans?
While most ants are harmless to humans, some species can be a nuisance or even cause damage. Fire ants, for example, can deliver painful stings, while carpenter ants can damage wooden structures.
7. How do ants defend themselves?
Ants defend themselves using a variety of methods, including biting, stinging, and spraying acid. Some species of ants also form a protective wall around their colony using their own bodies.
8. What is the lifespan of an ant?
The lifespan of an ant can vary depending on the species. Some ants may live only a few weeks, while others can live for several years.
9. How do ants find food?
Ants use their sense of smell to locate food. They can detect the pheromones left by other ants and follow them to the food source.
10. How can ants be controlled?
Ants can be controlled using a variety of methods, including baits, sprays, and traps. It is important to identify the species of ant before attempting to control them, as different species may respond differently to different methods.
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