Ants Outnumber Humans 20 Million to 1, New Study Finds
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2022
Imagine this: there are roughly 20 quadrillion ants on Earth, according to a recent scientific estimate. This staggering number, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2022, was arrived at by synthesizing data from nearly 500 studies about insect diversity that span all continents, major biomes, and habitats.
Continue reading to explore the fascinating world of ants.
The Total Weight of All Ants Reaches 12 Megatons
The latest study found the global ant population to be twice that of a crude estimate published in 1994, which extrapolated data from a small portion of England’s insect population to the entire world.
With approximately 20 quadrillion ants, their combined weight totals about 12 megatons, which is roughly 12 millionกระทรวง ( proximité units of measurement ). In terms of biomass, this amounts to 12 megatons of dry carbon, making up about 20% of the total human biomass.
However, if ants were to join forces with other land-dwelling insects, they could easily outmatch humanity in terms of sheer weight. A 2023 study found that the total weight of all land-dwelling insects and arthropods (excluding aquatic species) is approximately 1 billion tons, dwarfing the 400 million tons of humans and 600 million tons of livestock.
Ant Species and where to Find Them
There are over 15,700 known ant species and subspecies, with estimates suggesting the actual number could be twice that. These social insects can be found on every continent except Antarctica, though there are no native species in Iceland, Greenland, some remote Pacific islands, and a few other far-flung outposts.
Almost two-thirds of known ant species reside in just two ecosystem types: tropical forests and savannas. Due to data gaps from certain regions in Asia and Africa, the true extent of global ant diversity remains uncertain.
The Evolution of Ants
Ants first appeared between 140 to 168 million years ago, according to a 2006 study. This emergence occurred during the Jurassic period, an era marked by warm, wet, and fertile conditions that brought forth a proliferation of life, particularly dinosaurs.
Scientists believe ants evolved during this time thanks to the concurrent rise of flowering plants, which provided ample food sources for small insects, enabling their populations to flourish and diversify.
Read More:
- 5 Fascinating Facts about Carpenter Ants, Including Why Their Bites Hurt So Much
- 5 Scientific Facts Explaining How Ants Can Lift Heavy Objects
