This is a very common and widespread group well known to everyone, the ants are probably the most successful of all insect groups, they occur practically everywhere in terrestrial habitats and out number in individuals most other terrestrial animals. All ants are social insects, and most colonies contain 3 castes, queen, males and workers, the queens are larger than the members of the other castes and are usually winged. The queen usually starts a colony. The males are winged and usually considerably smaller than the queens, they are short lived and the soon after mating. The workers are sterile wingless females and make up the bulk of the colony.