History of Ant in Timeline

Ants are eusocial insects belonging to the family Formicidae and the order Hymenoptera, which also includes wasps and bees. They evolved from wasp-like ancestors during the Cretaceous period. Distinguishing features of ants include their elbowed antennae and a node-like structure forming their narrow waists. Currently, over 13,800 species have been described out of an estimated total of 22,000.

1905: H. G. Wells wrote about intelligent ants destroying human settlements in Brazil

In 1905, H. G. Wells wrote about intelligent ants destroying human settlements in Brazil and threatening human civilization in his science-fiction short story, The Empire of the Ants.

1937: Leiningen Versus the Ants was written

In 1937, the German story Leiningen Versus the Ants was written, involving army ants.

1954: The Naked Jungle movie released

In 1954, the story Leiningen Versus the Ants was recreated in movie form as The Naked Jungle.

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1966: Fossil remains of an ant (Sphecomyrma) that lived in the Cretaceous period identified

In 1966, E. O. Wilson and his colleagues identified the fossil remains of an ant (Sphecomyrma) that lived in the Cretaceous period, trapped in amber dating back to around 92 million years ago.

1992: SimAnt won the Codie award for "Best Simulation Program"

In the early 1990s, the video game SimAnt, which simulated an ant colony, won the 1992 Codie award for "Best Simulation Program".

2006: Ant eggs sell for as much as US$200 per kg

As of 2006, the eggs of two species of ants, used in Mexican escamoles, can sell for as much as US$200 per kg because they are seasonal and hard to find.

2009: E. O. Wilson's estimate of the total number of ants

In 2009, myrmecologist E. O. Wilson estimated that the total number of ants at any one time was between one and ten quadrillion.

2010: E. O. Wilson wrote Trailhead

In 2010, renowned myrmecologist E. O. Wilson wrote a short story, "Trailhead" for The New Yorker magazine, which describes the life and death of an ant-queen and the rise and fall of her colony.

2013: Ants are a sister group of the Apoidea

In 2013, a study suggested that ants are a sister group of the Apoidea, implying that ants should be upgraded to the same rank as Apoidea.

2020: Detailed basic taxonomy proposed

In 2020, a more detailed basic taxonomy of ants was proposed, which involved placing three species of the extinct mid-Cretaceous genera Camelomecia and Camelosphecia outside of the Formicidae.

2021: Common ancestors of ants and apoids probably existed as early as in the end of the Jurassic period

In 2021, Fernández et al. suggested that the common ancestors of ants and apoids within the Formicapoidina probably existed as early as in the end of the Jurassic period, before divergence in the Cretaceous.

2022: Global ant contribution estimated at 12 megatons of dry carbon

In 2022, a study estimated the global ant contribution at 12 megatons of dry carbon, about 20% of the total human contribution.

2025: Discovery of xenoparous reproductive mode in Messor ibericus queens

In 2025, a complex situation was discovered where Messor ibericus queens were shown to lay some eggs that developed into workers which match genetically with a different species of ant, Messor structor, and this reproductive mode has been termed as "xenoparous".