Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related families of wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. Today, more than 12,000 species are classified with upper estimates of about 14,000 species. They are easily identified by their elbowed antennae and a distinctive node-like structure that forms a slender waist. Ants form colonies that range in size from a few tens of predatory individuals living in small natural cavities to highly organised colonies which may occupy large territories and consist of millions of individuals that are mostly sterile females forming castes of "workers", "soldiers", or other specialised groups. Ant colonies also have some fertile males called "drones" and one or more fertile females called "queens". Ants have colonised almost every landmass on Earth. Ants dominate most ecosystems, and form 15–20% of the terrestrial animal biomass. Their success has been attributed to their social organisation, ability to modify their habitats, tap resources and defend themselves.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant

_________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

304:

Saint Agnes was executed for refusing the prefect Sempronius' wish for her to marry his son. She is today the patron saint of girls, chastity, virgins, and others. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnes_of_Rome)

1919:

The First Dáil Éireann first convened at the Mansion House in Dublin, adopting a Declaration of Independence calling for a new sovereign state: the Irish Republic. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_Independence_(Ireland)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_Independence_%28Ireland%29 )

1948:

The Flag of Quebec, featuring a white cross and four fleurs-de-lis on a blue field, was adopted and flown for the first time over the Quebec Parliament Building in Quebec City. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Quebec)

1968:

Vietnam War: The Vietnam People's Army attacked Khe Sanh Combat Base, a U.S. Marines outpost in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam, starting the Battle of Khe Sanh. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Khe_Sanh)

2008:

Black Monday in worldwide stock markets. FTSE 100 had its biggest ever one-day points fall, European stocks closed with their worst result since 9/11, and Asian stocks drop as much as 15%. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_2008_stock_market_downturn)

_______________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

bastion (n) 1. A projecting part of a rampart or other fortification. 2. A well-fortified position; a stronghold or citadel. 3. (figurative) A person, or group, who strongly defends some principle. (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bastion)

______________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

If the general government should persist in the measures now threatened, there must be war. It is painful enough to discover with what unconcern they speak of war and threaten it. They do not know its horrors. I have seen enough of it to make me look upon it as the sum of all evils. --Stonewall Jackson (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Stonewall_Jackson)