THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF ANTS
Learn About Nature's Most Amazing & Industrious Insects!
By Carolyn Pararas-Carayannis
Search Terms: About Ants, Myrmecology, Ant Types, Ant Species, Ant Behaviors, Formicidae Taxonomy, Ant Taxonomy
Welcome to the Myrmecology pages of Carolyn Pararas-Carayannis. This website contains information All About Ants, Ant Species and Ant Taxonomy - the way ants are biologically classified and ranked by scientists within the insect world. Biological Classification has a hierarchy of eight major taxonomic ranks based on original works of Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), who grouped all known species according to similarities and physical characteristics.
As technology advanced Molecular Phylogenetics, which uses DNA sequences as data, the original works of Linnaeus were augmented to improve classification conformity with Darwin's Principle of Common Descent. Today's combination of biological classification and Phylogenetics belongs to the science of Biological Systematics.
Biological scientists and more specifically myrmecologists (those who study ants) utilize taxonomic rankings* to understand ancestral and evolutional relationships, biodiversity, and how organisms are related to, or different from, other similar organisms. The Biological Classification of Ants (Formacidae) within the animal kingdom looks like this:
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Arthropoda, Subphylum: Hexapoda, Class: Insecta, Subclass: Pterygota, Infraclass: Neoptera, Order: Hymenoptera, Suborder: Apocrita, Infraorder: Aculeata, Superfamily: Vespoidea, Family: Formicidae, Genus: (there are many) Species: (there are many)(ITIS, 2006).about Myrmecology - the study of Ants. About Ants, Myrmecology, Ant Types Ant Behaviors
*Taxonomic rankings can be defined as the relative position of categories within the taxonomic hierarchy, with each subsequent rank below "kingdom" becoming more discriminatory.
Taxonomic ranking provide a structural framework which facilitates learning and enables us to study about ants and ant species in relation to themselves and other species in a systemic manner. For example, did you know ants are descendents from wasp-like ancestors? That is why their Family: Formicidae (see above) is classified under the Order: Hymenoptera (see above). The word "Hymenoptera", derived from the ancient Greek word "humenopteros" literally means "membranous wings"; and the Order: Hymenoptera happens to be the same order under which wasps and bees are also classified (family names not shown here). About Ants, Myrmecology, Ant Types Ant Behavior,About Ants, Myrmecology, Ant Types, Ant Behaviors.
Additional website specifics include comprehensive articles about various Ant Species: their characteristics, the kinds of colonies they create, class
behaviors within their colony, how they impact their environment and their relationship with man. Pertinent insect definitions are
provided and, yes, even ways for ant control are suggested, when
they seem to overstep their bounds. Myrmecology, about ants, ant types, ant behaviors, Ant Species.
The informative and well-illustrated articles are written in an easy-to-understand
manner. Most photos presented
are high definition. Videos and diagrams of ants are chosen for
their educational content and their ability to augment article
text. "TID BIT" articles are informational thumbnail sketches
of larger, more complex articles as well snapshots of interesting,
related topics.
My aim at info-now.org/ants is to create for you enjoyable, academic and visual experiences about one of
the world's most tiniest insects. ant types, ant behaviors
Thank you for visiting this Myrmecology portal.
To access information all About Ants - just click links on the side panels.
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From: "The Wonderful World of Ants" & "Gardening Tips". |
Create Paradise Indoors with Potted Plants By Carolyn Pararas-Carayannis With a little forethought and planning, the creation and upkeep of an indoor garden can be an enjoyable, rewarding experience with minimal toil. A home filled with potted plants is a home that radiates an aggregate of warmth, beauty and appeal. Plants can "spice" up the kitchen, augment the aesthetics of an area, enhance decor and cleanse the air. Odoriferous varieties and those with bold visual qualities are capable of evoking subliminal, sensual experiences and emotional boosts for occupants. Too often, species-selection and ongoing maintenance read more |
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Ant Farms by Dr. Carolyn Pararas-Carayannis Ant farms make great educational hobbies, especially for children. Although very tiny and unable to survive on their own, ants work together large family groups called colonies. Because ants are eusocial*, have specialized divisions of labor within the colony and demonstrate effective communication and self-organization, individuals devote their lives and work in unison for the good of the colony. Thus the colony, behaving as a superorganism*, thrives as though it was a single organism of a higher order. Adults and children alike are often curious about what ants do underground, since most ant nests are subterranean and many of their activities take place obscured from view. But with the aid of specially constructed colony containments, called ant farm aquariums, one can study Formicidae behaviors and view their day-to-day subterranean activities with ease. Suitable ant farm aquariums allows read more
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