# data[].attributes.body
Episode 1 - Cartoon

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Birth of Maya - Maya the Bee - Episode 1

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.slideshare.net/MelissaDNourigat/honey-bee-presentation-final

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Published on

Demise of the North American Honey Bee

1. 1. The Importance of the Honey Bee Unattributed Middle Schooler

2. 2. Almonds, Eggplant, Strawberries, Blueberries, Celery, Cherries, Avocados, Beans, Apples, Sunflowers, Cucumbers, Hazelnuts, Turnips, Pears, Apricots, Flax, Oranges, Grapefruits, Honey and Coconuts Do you eat these fruits and vegetables?

3. 3. Honey Bees <ul><li>All the fruits and vegetables you just saw needed some form of pollination to reproduce. </li></ul><ul><li>The honey bee is one of the main pollinators in the animal kingdom. </li></ul><ul><li>The honey bee pollinates an estimated 30% of the food eaten in the U.S. </li></ul><ul><li>Another astounding statistic is that in the last 20 years the domesticated honey bee population has shrunk by 30-50% in the U.S. </li></ul><ul><li>Honey bees were brought to the Americas in the 1620's from Asia and Africa. </li></ul><ul><li>Even though different types of bees, birds, and even bats can pollinate plants, honey bees are the most prolific and productive of the pollinators. </li></ul><ul><li>They are astounding insects whose way of life fascinates scientists even to this day. </li></ul>

4. 4. The hive <ul><li>A honey beehive is made of wax. This wax is sculpted into perfect hexagonal cells. </li></ul><ul><li>The cells provide storage for larvae, pollen, and honey. </li></ul><ul><li>The hive is like a giant nursery, home, and factory </li></ul>Above - Feral Below - Domesticated

5. 5. Pollination via Honey bee <ul><li>Pollination is transfer of pollen from one flower to another, which in turn lets the plant reproduce. </li></ul><ul><li>Honey bees will fly to the flowers of and collect pollen which contains the male gametes. </li></ul><ul><li>The honey bee will then distribute pollen to the stigma of the female plants. </li></ul><ul><li>The stigma of the stile receives the pollen which initiates fertilization. </li></ul>

6. 6. Types of Bees

7. 7. Drone <ul><li>Strictly male. </li></ul><ul><li>Their sole job is to mate with the queen at about 2-8 weeks of age. </li></ul><ul><li>After mating with the queen the drone dies. </li></ul><ul><li>In early fall, all the drones that have not mated are kicked out of the hive. (This preserves precious food resources so the colony can survive through the winter.) </li></ul>

8. 8. Worker <ul><li>Strictly female. </li></ul><ul><li>Largest population of the hive. </li></ul><ul><li>Responsible for caring for young, food storage, cleaning, foraging, protection, tending to the queen, and regulating the temperature of the hive. </li></ul><ul><li>Makes wax to build the hive. </li></ul><ul><li>Lives for 5-8 weeks in the summer. They can live longer during the winter when there's less "work" to be done. </li></ul>

9. 9. Queen <ul><li>Strictly female. </li></ul><ul><li>The sole fertilized reproducer of the hive. </li></ul><ul><li>Generally there is only a single queen per colony. </li></ul><ul><li>Lays appx. 1,500 to 2,000 eggs per day during the summer. </li></ul><ul><li>Comes from a special, larger cell. The larval queen is fed exclusively royal jelly. </li></ul>

10. 10. Other facts about honey bees <ul><li>To communicate to other honey bees where the nectar or pollen can be found they do a special "bee dance." This dance communicates the distance and direction of the source. </li></ul><ul><li>The workers make the hive from wax and form each cell to store food (honey and pollen) or brood (larvae). </li></ul><ul><li>It is estimated that for every pound of honey, around 25,000 flights must be made to make collect necessary nectar. They also must visit around 2 million flowers to make that pound of honey and fly 55,000 miles. </li></ul><ul><li>The honey bees in Oregon are quite mild and non-aggressive, while honey bees in other parts of the nation can be more aggressive (Africanized Honey bees). </li></ul>

11. 11. Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) <ul><li>Symptoms of CCD include the relatively sudden disappearance of the majority of the bees, yet honey and the queen remain. </li></ul><ul><li>CCD was first recognized in fall 2006. </li></ul><ul><li>CCD is the disappearance of bees. This has occurred in many parts of the world. </li></ul><ul><li>There is no single known cause for CCD. Researchers think stress is one factor that drives them out of the hive. </li></ul><ul><li>Contrary to urban myths, cell phones and power line radiation are not the cause of CCD. </li></ul><ul><li>CCD and general bee population decline is currently happening. At a recent beekeeper meeting I attended, almost every single beekeeper reported losses. </li></ul>

12. 12. Possible causes of CCD and General Bee Decline <ul><li>Pesticides </li></ul><ul><li>Malnutrition </li></ul><ul><li>Mites/ Viruses </li></ul><ul><li>Intensive Agriculture </li></ul><ul><li>Note: There are more possibilities, but these are the most commonly cited. </li></ul>

13. 13. Pesticides <ul><li>Using pesticides on plants kills insects - the bad insects as well as the good insects. </li></ul><ul><li>When the honey bee collects pollen or nectar, she might could be contaminated with the pesticide which she could carry back to the hive; killing her nest mates. </li></ul><ul><li>Neonicotinds (a class of chemical found in recently developed pesticides) have already been outlawed in France since it damages the bees' ability to navigate. </li></ul><ul><li>Through the process of guttatation, extremely high concentrations of pesticides can get into the plant's stoma and make the water on its leaves deadly poisonous to bees. </li></ul>

14. 14. Malnutrition <ul><li>Some domesticated honey bees are only pollinating a few crops throughout the year. This is known as mono-cropping. This results in unhealthy bees, because their diet may not be diverse enough to help their body defend against sickness. </li></ul><ul><li>Mono-cropping is mainly found when farmers grow and sell a single product on a massive scale resulting in a severe lack of diversity. </li></ul>

15. 15. Mites <ul><li>The biggest killer </li></ul><ul><li>First detected in the 1980's, mites such as the Varroa, Tracheal and Nosema parasite have killed thousands of bees and hundreds of hives. </li></ul><ul><li>In a recent study at Oregon State University of 247 samples from across the state, 137 of those samples had the Nosema parasite present and 234 had Varroa mites present. </li></ul><ul><li>The Varroa mite will infect and feed on the larvae in the cells. Nosema parasite infect the digestive tract. Tracheal mites actually enter the breathing tubes of mature bees and choke them. </li></ul>Nosema Infection Varroa mite Tracheal mites in the breathing tubes

16. 16. Intensive Agriculture <ul><li>Bee keepers and farmers often move hives to different locations (even different states). </li></ul><ul><li>Scientists theorize that this excessive moving resulting in rapid seasonal change and colony stress may confuse the honey bees and make them susceptible to disease. </li></ul>

17. 17. Bee-conomics <ul><li>Approximately 1/3 of all the food we eat is pollinated by honey bees. </li></ul><ul><li>This represents $15 billion dollars of produce in the US annually. </li></ul><ul><li>If the honey bees die off, the price of all their products will rise. For example, the price of almonds went up from $1.50 per pound in 1983 to $3.50 per pound in 2005. In the next 20 years the cost could double or triple. </li></ul>

18. 18. What can you do? <ul><li>Plant plants and flowers in your garden that honey bees love (see handout) </li></ul><ul><li>Make your garden honey bee friendly (see "Gardening Tips" handout) </li></ul><ul><li>Don't kill honey bees </li></ul><ul><li>Donate to research studies </li></ul><ul><li>Raise awareness! </li></ul><ul><li>Become a beekeeper </li></ul><ul><li>Whatever efforts you make are appreciated by the honey bees and your community </li></ul>

19. 19. Donation Information <ul><li>Oregon State University </li></ul><ul><li>Department of Horticulture </li></ul><ul><li>Dr. Ramesh Sageili </li></ul><ul><li>4017 Agricultural & Life Sciences Bldg. </li></ul><ul><li>Corvallis, Oregon 97331 </li></ul><ul><li>[email_address] </li></ul><ul><li>541-737-5460 </li></ul><ul><li>Make checks payable to: OSU Agricultural Research Foundation. (On memo line of check write Ramesh Sagili Research.) </li></ul>

20. 20. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Published on Demise of the North American Honey Bee 1. The Importance of the Honey Bee Unattributed Middle Schooler 2. Almonds, Eggplant, Strawberries, Blueberries, Celery, Cherries, Avocados, Beans, Apples, Sunflowers, Cucumbers, Hazelnuts, Turnips, Pears, Apricots, Flax, Oranges, Grapefruits, Honey and Coconuts Do you eat these fruits and vegetables? 3.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZlEjDLJCmg

# data[].attributes.headline
Feed the bees! Make a bee cafe for your patio.

# data[].attributes.subject
Feed the bees! Make a bee cafe for your patio.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfbE5AUG5tM&list=PLmTANLv-GyXXqmwkIkdXcNYoY6Sy1t0Pg&index=2

# data[].attributes.headline
Ten facts about bees by National Geographic Kids

# data[].attributes.subject
Ten facts about bees by National Geographic Kids

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.natgeokids.com/za/discover/animals/insects/honey-bees/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find amazing facts about animals, science, history and geography, along with fun competitions, games and more. Visit National Geographic Kids today!

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdrqemBtQkc

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-BnqH_kGUA&list=PLmTANLv-GyXXqmwkIkdXcNYoY6Sy1t0Pg&index=14

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Whats inside a beehive? | Beekeeping with Maddie #2

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSdKDmU7D5w&list=PLmTANLv-GyXXqmwkIkdXcNYoY6Sy1t0Pg&index=6

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Honeycomb under a Microscope! (The Life Cycle of a Honey Bee)

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=lE-8QuBDkkw

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
NATURE | Silence of the Bees | Inside the Hive | PBS

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ePic3dtykk

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Do Honeybees Get Their Jobs? | National Geographic

# data[].attributes.body
https://bigislandbees.com/blogs/bee-blog/14137353-bee-hive-hierarchy-and-activities

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Each of our hives each has about 50,000 bees. Each hive has one queen, and 100 female worker bees for every male drone bee. The queen's only job is to lay eggs and a drone's job is to mate with the queen. The worker bees are responsible for everything else: gathering nectar, guarding the hive and honey, caring for the queen and larvae, keeping the hive clean, and producing honey.

The Queen Bee
The queen is like the goddess: her life is committed to selfless service by being the reproductive center of the hive. She lays all the eggs (about 1,500 per day!) and only leaves the hive once in her life in order to mate. Becoming the queen bee is a matter of luck. Queens become queens only because as eggs they had the good fortune of being laid in cells specifically designated for raising queens. Then, they are fed more "royal jelly" (which contains more honey and pollen than the "larval jelly" that is eaten by workers and drones), allowing them to grow larger than other female bees. Without a queen, life in the hive grows chaotic. The worker bees forage for nectar and pollen less, and when they do forage, they bring less back to the hive. When the queen dies (or if she slows down egg production), worker bees once again designate queen cells and raise new virgin queens.

Learn more about the queen here: 7 Fascinating Facts About the Queen Bee

The Male Drones
A male drone has only one purpose in life: to mate with the queen. And, there are 100 female worker bees for every male drone bee. While this may be appealing to some males, a drone's life is hardly enviable. Drones are incapable of feeding themselves or foraging for food, they lack stingers, and they die immediately after mating. And, when times are lean or during the winter (when the queen does not mate), worker bees force drones outside the hive, leaving them to starve. But, don't worry...our male bees don't suffer because Hawaii's year-round warm climate ensures consistent warm weather...and our beekeepers make sure they are always in a honey flow!

The Female Workers
"A woman's work never ends." Nowhere is this statement truer than in the hive, where all of the work is done by female bees, which outnumber male bees by a ratio of 100 to 1. Worker bees are responsible for every job in the hive except reproduction. The female worker bees have different positions within the hive. Some are scouts, some are guards, some care for the queen, some produce honey, etc. Below are some of the jobs in the hive.

Ever wonder how bees communicate? They dance! Find out what each dance means.
"House Bee" Activities:
Nursing: Nurse bees feed and care for growing larvae.

Attending the Queen: Attendants to the queen groom her and feed her frequently.

Cleaning the Hive: This may involve cleaning used cells or clearing the hive of debris.

Cleaning other Bees: These chores involve cleaning dust, stray hairs, and other debris off several others in rapid succession.

Undertaker duties: Although 90% of bees die outside the hive, those that do not are dropped immediately outside the hive to dry. After they have dried, undertaker bees pick them up, fly them several hundred meters from the hive, and drop them (to prevent dead bees from accumulating by the hive, which could attract pests or pestilence).

Building Honeycomb: Bees secrete beeswax and use it to build honeycomb. Oftentimes hundreds of bees will work on the same small section of comb.

Capping Honeycomb: Bees secrete beeswax and use it to cap pupae cells and cells full of ripened honey.

Pollen Packing: House bees collect pollen from returning foragers and pack it in cells for later consumption.

Nectar Ripening: House bees ripen nectar into raw honey by depositing it in cells, and fanning the nectar so that excess water evaporates.

Repairing Hive: Bees use propolis to repair cracks in the hive and to cover foreign particles that are too large to remove.

You might also like: Honey Quality: Do You Know What Your Bees Are Eating?
Forager Bee Activities:
Collecting Nectar & Pollen: Bees visit 50-100 flowers to collect nectar and pollen on each foraging trip. They carry nectar in their "honey sacks" and pollen in the "pollen baskets" on their legs.

Collecting Propolis: Certain bees only collect propolis ("bee glue"), gathering the resinous substance from trees and carrying it home in their "pollen baskets."

Collecting Water: 1% of the bees in the hive collect water. Water helps keep the hive cool and allows nurse bees to dilute raw honey for young larvae.

Guard the Hive: Guard bees protect the hive, stinging intruders and emitting a pheromone to warn bees inside the hive of impending danger.

Learn how to cook with honey in any recipe that calls for sugar: View our printable conversion chart and learn more at this link.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Each of our hives each has about 50,000 bees. Each hive has one queen, and 100 female worker bees for every male drone bee. The queen's only job is to lay eggs and a drone's job is to mate with the queen.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxg_XEvla8c

# data[].attributes.body
https://school.eb.co.uk/levels/foundation/article/bee/439810

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Welcome to Britannica School , a safe, up-to-date, and age-appropriate information resource for Primary, Middle and Secondary School.

# data[].attributes.body
https://school.eb.co.uk/levels/intermediate/article/wolf/442086

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Welcome to Britannica School , a safe, up-to-date, and age-appropriate information resource for Primary, Middle and Secondary School.

# data[].attributes.body
A picture

# data[].attributes.body
"A wolf pack: the first 3 are the old or sick, they give the pace to the entire pack. If it was the other way round, they would be left behind, losing contact with the pack. In case of an ambush they would be sacrificed. Then come 5 strong ones, the front line. In the center are the rest of the pack members, then the 5 strongest following. Last is alone, the alpha. He controls everything from the rear. In that position he can see everything, decide the direction. He sees all of the pack. The pack moves according to the elders pace and help each other, watch each other."

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88vesQBAnOE

# data[].attributes.body
http://giteinlombardia.it/notizia/i-luoghi-migliori-per-osservare-da-vicino-le-cicogne/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
La cicogna bianca è un bellissimo uccello associato fin dall'antichità a molte simbologie dovute al suo candore e alla sua spiccata sensibilità, evidente soprattutto nella cura dei piccoli e dei suoi simili più anziani. Il simbolo più noto è quello legato alla fedeltà coniugale e alla famiglia proprio perché una delle peculiarità di questo animale è che le coppie che si formano rimangono insieme per tutta la vita. Romantico, vero?

Conosciamo ora più da vicino questo bellissimo uccello da sempre molto amato. La cicogna bianca è un grosso uccello migratore facilmente riconoscibile sia per il suo candido piumaggio, sia per la lunghezza delle sue zampe e del suo becco arancioni. Anche in volo è facilmente individuabile, grazie alla sua notevole apertura alare che supera i due metri di lunghezza!

La cicogna è diffusa in Europa, Africa e Asia. In Italia è tornata a volare negli anni Ottanta dopo molto tempo e ad oggi si possono contare oltre 200 coppie sul suolo nazionale.

Nel nostro territorio si può osservare anche la cicogna nera, soprattutto nel periodo migratorio mentre transita sopra alle nostre montagne.

Non tutti sanno che la Lombardia, ad oggi, è tra le regioni che contano più presenze di cicogne in Italia. Pensate che nel 2016 erano state segnalate ben 77 nidificazioni!

Dove posso vedere le cicogne?

Per ammirare il candido piumaggio delle cicogne occorre recarsi nelle aree umide e paludose attorno alle zone agricole. Tenendo il naso all'insù, si possono vedere anche i loro nidi, larghi più di 1 metro e costruiti su alberi, edifici, rovine, tralicci o altre strutture artificiali di una certa altezza. In primavera è davvero emozionante osservare le cicogne mentre si prendono cura amorevolmente dei loro piccoli affamati, i pulli, che attendono con impazienza il ritorno dei genitori che si alternano nella ricerca di cibo.

Vi suggeriamo i luoghi migliori per osservare e fotografare da vicino le cicogne. Tenete sempre presente che la regola fondamentale è rispettare sempre la quiete e l'habitat in cui vivono non solo le cicogne, ma anche tutti gli altri esseri animali e vegetali. Ricordatevi che siete voi gli ospiti a casa loro!

Provincia di Milano

Anche alle porte di Milano la cicogna è tornata! Sono sempre di più gli esemplare che nidificano nel territorio del Parco Agricolo Sud di Milano. A Cerro al Lambro dal 2011 una coppia di cicogne nidifica sul campanile. Nonostante i problemi iniziali durante il restauro dell'edificio, la coppia non ha mai smesso di nidificare lì e con la loro intraprendenza alla fine hanno conquistato i cuori di tutti. Non ci crederete, ma oggi sono così famose da avere una pagina Facebook a loro dedicata!

Provincia di Pavia

L'area del Pavese è sicuramente la più popolata di cicogne. Sono diversi i centri urbani in cui nidificano questi uccelli e tra questi è da menzionare Sant'Alessio con Vialone, già noto per l'omonima oasi. Sicuramente, però, il luogo migliore per osservarle da vicino, circondati dallo splendido ambiente naturale del Parco Lombardo della Valle del Ticino, è la Cascina Venara di Zerbolò dove è attivo un vero e proprio progetto che favorisce la riproduzione della cicogna bianca e che oggi ospita ben una dozzina di coppie. Oltre alla possibilità di osservazione della cicogna, sono tante le attività di educazione ambientale organizzate dal centro, rivolte soprattutto ai bambini.

Provincia di Mantova

Per ammirare questi splendidi uccelli anche il bellissimo Parco Naturale del Mincio è il luogo adatto. Dai primi anni Novanta, infatti, è attivo un progetto di reintroduzione della cicogna bianca presso il Bosco del Bertone. Le cicogne ospitate nel parco si possono osservare da vicino ed è particolarmente emozionante vederle in primavera, quando sono impegnate a costruire il nido, a nutrire i piccoli e a seguire le loro prove di volo.

Provincia di Lodi

Al Centro Visite di Castiglione d'Adda, situato nei pressi della Riserva Naturale Orientata Adda Morta - Lanca della Rotta, è presente la stazione di ambientamento della cicogna bianca a sostegno del programma di ripopolamento promosso dalla LIPU che ha portato ad un progressivo aumento di cicogne che nidificanti all'interno o nei dintorni del territorio del Parco.

Ora non vi resta che scegliere dove andare ad ammirare la bellissima cicogna bianca! Buona gita!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
I luoghi migliori per osservare da vicino le cicogne

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
La cicogna bianca è un bellissimo uccello associato fin dall'antichità a molte simbologie dovute al suo candore e alla sua spiccata sensibilità, evidente soprattutto nella cura dei piccoli e dei suoi simili più anziani.

# data[].attributes.body
https://school.eb.co.uk/levels/foundation/article/stork/441784

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Welcome to Britannica School , a safe, up-to-date, and age-appropriate information resource for Primary, Middle and Secondary School.

# data[].attributes.body
https://school.eb.co.uk/levels/foundation/article/animal-migration/441063

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Welcome to Britannica School , a safe, up-to-date, and age-appropriate information resource for Primary, Middle and Secondary School.

# data[].attributes.headline
maps of relevant geographical areas related to animanls in the padlet

# data[].attributes.subject
maps of relevant geographical areas related to animanls in the padlet

# data[].attributes.headline
Agents as essential part of being a member.

# data[].attributes.subject
Agents as essential part of being a member.

# data[].attributes.headline
Community as a group of people in the same place and with the same aim. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Community as a group of people in the same place and with the same aim. 

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ-da0AZcRU&t=96s
Start from 1 minute 20

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A lion called Christian   The whole Documentary Full length

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxETOdcXkqQ&t=8s

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Christian The Lion at World's End (Part 7 Conclusion).mp4

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jZWmXElyC8

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Christian The Lion at World's End (Part 6).mp4

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HElfaB3o7Q

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Christian the Lion at World's End (Part 5).mp4

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnlrUL0ACPg

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Christian The Lion at World's End (Part 3).mp4

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTJXGBFQ234

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Christian The Lion at World's End (Part 2).mp4

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3juNtb9herA

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Christian The Lion at World's End (Part 1).mp4

# data[].attributes.body
A picture

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SPixBok5ls

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5B_qlLan20

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2caKueedluk

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.natgeokids.com/za/discover/animals/insects/ant-facts/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Check out our ten favourite facts about ants that are guaranteed to blow your mind...

1. There are over 12,000 ant species worldwide

Ranging from the ant you might find scuttling across your picnic to the ants building underground fortresses in the rainforest, to flying ants!

2. The bullet ant is said to have the most painful sting in the world!

Living in humid jungle conditions such as the Amazon, their sting has been compared to being hit by a bullet - ouch!

3. Fire ants cause over £3 billion worth of damage a year!

North America's red imported fire ant might only be little, but the tiny critters have a painful bite which causes a burning sensation - hence the name "fire ant", which costs the US millions in veterinary and medical bills every year! They've also been known to cause damage to farmer's crops.

4. Ants are the longest living insects

Unlike some bugs who might only live for days or even hours, the queen ant of one particular species - the Pogonomyrmex Owyheei - can live up to 30 years - so be careful not to stand on her!

5. The ant is one of the world's strongest creatures in relation to its size

A single ant can carry 50 times its own bodyweight, and they'll even work together to move bigger objects as a group!

Ants carry leaves and twigs back to their nests!

6. Ants hold the record for the fastest movement in the animal kingdom

The aptly named species of trap jaw ant, can close its jaws at 140mph, which it uses to kill its prey or injure predators. Image if that bit you on the bum!

7. Ants can be found on every single continent except Antarctica

Ironic really, when you consider the name...

8. Ants are social insects which live in colonies

The colony, also called a formicary, is made up of one or more egg-laying queens and a large amount of female "worker" ants who tend to her, build and maintain the nest, forage for food and and care for the young.

Male ants have wings and their only function is to mate with the queen.

9. Ants don't have ears, and some of them don't have eyes!

Ants "listen" by feeling vibrations from the ground through their feet, and eye-less ants such as the driver ant species can communicate by using their antennae!

Plus, they can send chemical signals (called pheremones) released through their body to send messages to other ants! They send out warnings when danger's near, leave trails of pheremones leading to food sources and even use them to attract a mate - a sort of ant love potion!

10. The largest ant's nest ever found was over 3,700 miles wide!

Found in Argentina in 2000, the ginormous colony housed 33 ant populations which had merged into one giant supercolony, with millions of nests and billions of workers!

Images ⓒ Getty Images: Ants on leaf (483596365), Ant carrying leaf (157168347).

Likes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 cool facts about ants! | National Geographic Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Check out our ten favourite facts about ants that are guaranteed to blow your mind... Ranging from the ant you might find scuttling across your picnic to the ants building underground fortresses in the rainforest, to flying ants! Living in humid jungle conditions such as the Amazon , their sting has been compared to being hit by a bullet - ouch!

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXs9BLdgoBY

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG-QZOTc5_Q

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Inside the ant colony - Deborah M. Gordon

# data[].attributes.body
https://school.eb.co.uk/levels/foundation/article/ant/439646

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Welcome to Britannica School , a safe, up-to-date, and age-appropriate information resource for Primary, Middle and Secondary School.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGI4D4Ji-IQ

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
15 Ways to Develop Student Agency -  Australian Teacher

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Serengeti: Pride of lions hunting and killing zebras (4 K/UHD)