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Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae, belonging to the order Hymenoptera. They are easily identified by their elbowed antennae and a distinctive node-like structure that forms a slender waist. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period 130 to 110 million years ago, and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than 12,500 of the estimated 22,000 species have been classified.

Ants have colonised almost every landmass on Earth. The only places lacking indigenous ants are Antarctica and certain remote or inhospitable islands. Ants thrive in most ecosystems, and may form 15%–25% of the terrestrial animal biomass. Their success has been attributed to their social organisation and their ability to modify habitats, tap resources, and defend themselves.

Ants form colonies that range in size from a few dozen predatory individuals living in small natural cavities to highly organised colonies which may occupy large territories and consist of millions of individuals. These 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 sometimes described as superorganisms because the ants appear to operate as a unified entity, collectively working together to support the colony.