Ant (?), n. [OE. ante, amete,
emete, AS. æmete akin to G. ameise. Cf.
Emmet.] (Zoöl.) A hymenopterous insect of the
Linnæan genus Formica, which is now made a family of several
genera; an emmet; a pismire.
☞ Among ants, as among bees, there are neuter or working ants,
besides the males and females; the former are without wings. Ants live
together in swarms, usually raising hillocks of earth, variously chambered
within, where they maintain a perfect system of order, store their
provisions, and nurture their young. There are many species, with diverse
habits, as agricultural ants, carpenter ants, honey
ants, foraging ants, amazon ants, etc. The white
ants or Termites belong to the Neuroptera.
Ant bird (Zoöl.), one of a very
extensive group of South American birds (Formicariidæ), which
live on ants. The family includes many species, some of which are called
ant shrikes, ant thrushes, and ant wrens. --
Ant rice (Bot.), a species of grass
(Aristida oligantha) cultivated by the agricultural ants of Texas
for the sake of its seed.