As of the time of writing, there are nearly 1000 species of ants in the United States. While this may seem like a huge number, there are other countries such as Australia and Indonesia that host significantly more species of ants. Generally, the colder the climate, the fewer species of ants to be found.
Countries near both the North and South poles with polar climates may have as few as 1 species of ant, while tropical countries like Indonesia may have up to a whopping 1500 species of ants within their boundaries. Our northern neighbor, Canada, has significantly fewer species of ants – around 200, which may be due in most part to its colder climate.
Even in the US, the number of species of ants that can be found varies from state to state. Again, climate plays a big part in determining this. Chilly Maine, for example, has way fewer species of ants than humid Louisiana. The number of species of ants that is actually visible is an entirely different matter. Most ants come in two colors, black or red, and most species do not have defining physical characteristics that may make it easier to differentiate them from other species.
If ants scare you, no worries – there is a wide variety of safe, natural products on the market that help to deal with ant infestations. EcoRaider® makes several insect repellants and insecticides that are safe for both children and pets and contain no harmful chemicals.