The world is inhabited by a wide selection of ant types, raging in size from 2 millimetres (0.08 inches) to 25 millimetres (1 inch). Ants are found all over the planet and different types of ants have developed to fit a broad range of diverse ecological niches and environments. You will find the broadest collection of ant types in warm climates. The known types of ants are today divided into 11,880 different species belonging to 16 different subfamilies. Each and every type of ant belongs to the family Formicidae in the order Hymenoptera. In the order Hymenoptera you will not only find various types of ants, you will also find all the known species of bee, wasp and sawfly.

The Myrmicinae type of ant
The subfamily Myrmicinae contains a broad collection of ant types divided into several tribes and numerous species. One characteristic shared by all ant types of the subfamily Myrmicinae is that the pupae have no cocoons. One example of an illustrious type of ant from this subfamily are the so called Leafcutter ants. Leafcutter ants feed on a particular type of fungus that they cultivate in their subterranean ants nest. Different species of this type of ants cultivate different species of fungus. The leafcutter ants are called leafcutter ants since they cut out pieces of leaf to bring back to the fungi which grows on freshly cut plant material. The leafcutter ants are divided into 39 different species belonging to two genera, Acromyrmex and Atta. The first genus contains 24 species and the second genus 15 species.  

The Myrmeciinae type of ants
The subfamily Myrmeciinae contains only two extant genera, Myrmecia and Nothomyrmecia. The Myrmeciinae types of ants are today only found in Australia and New Caledonia, but they were once found all over the world. The subfamily Myrmeciinae contains one extinct genera, Prionomyrmex, but that type of ants is only known from fossil records.

The Myrmecia type of ants is commonly referred to as jack-jumper ants or bull ants. They can be distinguished on their slender mandibles and unusually big eyes and they are known to have really good eye-sight. Myrmecia ants are large, quite aggressive and can deliver powerful stings. If you are sensitive to this type of ant venom, a sting can cause a serious anaphylactic shock that will require prompt medical attention. It is however only roughly 3 percent of the victims that suffers from an anaphylactic shock after a sting from this type of ant. 

Dolichoderinae types of ants
The various Dolichoderinae types of ants are divided into 24 different genera. One example of commonly known ant species form this subfamily is the Erratic ant (Tapinoma erraticum). This type of ant was scientifically described as early as 1789 by French entomologist Pierre André Latreille. It is a heat loving species that inhabit dry heathland in Europe. In continental Europe, its range includes suitable habitats in most of Central Europe, from southern Italy to northern Germany. On the British Islands, it is only present in Southern England. In Scandinavia, you can find this type of ant on the islands of Gotland and Öland in the Baltic Sea.

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