Formicidae Within the order Hymenoptera, all ant species belong to the family Formicidae. Formicidae is further divided into 11 subfamilies. However, in the United States, most ant species belong to three subfamilies-Dolichoderinae, Formicinae and Myrmicinae. Out of the 10,000 known species, approximately 700 occur in the U.S. Of these, fewer than 30 species may regularly infest homes and other buildings.
All ants are social insects in which the adults are specialized to perform various tasks.
The workers are sterile females, comprising the most numerous caste in the colony. A relatively small percentage of the worker force actually gathers food, and these foragers are typically older workers. The remainder of the workers are younger in age and specialize in food relaying, food storage, larval feeding, nest defense and sanitation, etc. Workers may live for a few months to seven years, and are polymorphic in form and function. The queen is usually the largest individual in the colony.