Are Ants Insects? A Detailed Explanation of the Biological Classification of Ants

Ants are animals of the phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, order Hymenoptera, suborder Apocrita. The main features of insects are a body divided into three parts: head, thorax, and abdomen; the head bears a pair of antennae; the thorax bears three pairs of appendages (legs); and most species also have two pairs of wings. From these features alone, it is clear that ants are insects!

Ants are a common type of insect that people easily recognize. They are generally small, with colors including black, yellow, red, and white. Their body wall is elastic and either smooth or covered with fine hairs. Their mouthparts are of the chewing type, with well-developed mandibles. The antennae are geniculate, with a very long scape and the terminal 2 to 3 segments enlarged. The entire antenna is divided into 4 to 13 segments. The abdomen is nodular. Some have wings, and some do not. The spur on the foreleg is large and comb-like, forming a strigil (used for cleaning the antennae).

Ants are polymorphic social insects and can carry objects hundreds of times their own weight. They generally have 4 castes: queen ants, female ants, male ants, and worker ants.