Ant facts

• Ants belong to the insect order Hymenoptera and are close relatives of bees and wasps.

• More than 12,000 species occur throughout the world.

• Ants are common pests in homes, restaurants, hospitals, and warehouses.

• Ants enter buildings seeking shelter, food, and water.

• Established ant colonies are difficult to control.

• Ants feed on most types of food especially those with high carbohydrate and protein value. 

• ants utilize 2 ways to establish a new colony
  
  a) swarming
       the male and female ants performing the nuptial flight will mate and after that,          the female ant will try to find a suitable place to lay eggs and start a new colony.
  
  b) budding
       one to several queens with a group of workers carrying the brood leaving their            original nest in order to establish the nest at a new location