Male ants die after mating with female ants and live no longer than a few weeks, while worker ants can live for anywhere from several months to a year. Queen ants may live for a few years and are responsible for keeping the colony alive through mating with the short lived males ants.
Ants live all over the world, but are most abundant in tropical areas. They are found in just about every land habitat on Earth, except in regions that are extremely cold. They can construct their nests out of acorns and other small objects but most commonly live underground or in trees. Ants can be destructive to homes and other structures, while at the same time being an essential part of the ecosystem.
