Ants have been living on the Earth for at least 100 million years and can be found almost anywhere on the planet. Another 17 percent is taken up by termites. The combined weight of all ants on earth is more than the weight of all humans. There are nearly 10,000 known species of ants, but scientists believe there actually may be two or three times this many in existence. Japan has about 260 species of ants, while there are about 700 species of ants in the United States and Canada.
Ants have one of the largest brains of all insects.
An ant has about 250,000 brain cells. A human has about 10 billion. Ants can lift up to 20 times their own body weight. If humans were this strong, a 150-pound person would be able to easily lift a walrus. Ants are not only strong, they are fast.