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|2=Cerapachyinae‡ * |3=Leptanilloidinae‡ }} |2= |2= }} }} }} }} A phylogeny of the extant ant subfamilies. * ‡ The previous dorylomorph subfamilies were synonymized under Dorylinae by Brady ''et al''. in 2014 }} }} Ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than 12,500 of an estimated total of 22,000 species have been classified.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Hymenoptera name server. Formicidae species count. )〕 They are easily identified by their elbowed antennae and the distinctive node-like structure that forms their slender waists. Ants form colonies that range in size from a few dozen predatory individuals living in small natural cavities to highly organised colonies that may occupy large territories and consist of millions of individuals. Larger colonies consist mostly of sterile, wingless females forming castes of "workers", "soldiers", or other specialised groups. Nearly all ant colonies also have some fertile males called "drones" and one or more fertile females called "queens". The colonies are described as superorganisms because the ants appear to operate as a unified entity, collectively working together to support the colony. Ants have colonised almost every landmass on Earth. The only places lacking indigenous ants are Antarctica and a few remote or inhospitable islands. Ants thrive in most ecosystems and may form 15–25% of the terrestrial animal biomass.〔 Their success in so many environments has been attributed to their social organisation and their ability to modify habitats, tap resources, and defend themselves. Their long co-evolution with other species has led to mimetic, commensal, parasitic, and mutualistic relationships.〔Hölldobler & Wilson (1990), p. 471〕 Ant societies have division of labour, communication between individuals, and an ability to solve complex problems.〔 These parallels with human societies have long been an inspiration and subject of study. Many human cultures make use of ants in cuisine, medication, and rituals. Some species are valued in their role as biological pest control agents.〔 Their ability to exploit resources may bring ants into conflict with humans, however, as they can damage crops and invade buildings. Some species, such as the red imported fire ant (''Solenopsis invicta''), are regarded as invasive species, establishing themselves in areas where they have been introduced accidentally.〔 ==Etymology== The word "ant" is derived from ', ' of Middle English which are derived from ' of Old English, and is related to the dialectal Dutch ' and the Old High German ', hence the modern German ''ドイツ語:Ameise''. All of these words come from West Germanic '' *'', and the original meaning of the word was "the biter" (from Proto-Germanic '' *'', "off, away" + '' *'' "cut").〔(【引用サイトリンク】title="ant". Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Ant. Online Etymology Dictionary )〕 The family name Formicidae is derived from the Latin ''ラテン語:formīca'' ("ant") from which the words in other Romance languages, such as the Portuguese ', Italian ', Spanish ', Romanian ', and French ''フランス語:fourmi'' are derived. It has been hypothesised that a Proto-Indo-European word *morwi- was used, cf. Sanskrit vamrah, Latin formīca, Greek μύρμηξ ''mýrmēx'', Old Church Slavonic ''mraviji'', Old Irish ''moirb'', Old Norse ''maurr'', Dutch ''mier''.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Formic )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「ant」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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