The study about ants overturns all the figures about the insect population on our planet.

An international team from the University of Hong Kong has finally provided an answer to the question "How many ants are in the world," in case you've ever wondered about this topic: 20 quadrillion (20,000,000,000,000,000) or 20,000 trillion.

According to the study published in the journal "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" and the science portal "Phys.org," the global ant population was previously estimated to be between 1 and 10 quadrillion, depending on the source of the research, which could not be confirmed through documentation.

Previous calculations by biologists Bert Hölldobler and Edward O.

Wilson showed that ants accounted for 1% of the total insect population (1 quintillion), and the results of scientists at the University of Hong Kong overturn these figures.

The University of Hong Kong specified in a statement that ants, like humans, are one of the most successful and dominant groups of organisms, and their high degree of socialization has helped them colonize virtually all ecosystems and regions of the planet. There are at least 15,700 known species and subspecies of ants worldwide, and many species that still do not have a name.

To obtain the total number, researchers analyzed 489 studies of ant populations in 1,306 locations worldwide, conducted by scientists from around the world. This included non-English literature in languages such as Spanish, French, German, Russian, Mandarin, and Portuguese. Based on the data combined in those studies, they were able to determine the estimated number of ants in tropical and subtropical areas over the past 80 years.

As for distribution, ants are mostly found in tropical regions, followed by massive communities in forests and arid areas. Some species have adapted to life in cities and near farmlands. These insects don't live only in Antarctica.

Ants are organized in colonies - sophisticated communities with hierarchical structures and coordination and subordination relationships, and play a crucial role in the world's ecosystems. They aerate the soil, spread seeds, decompose organic material, and create habitats for other animals. They are also an important part of the food chain and can be more efficient than pesticides for farmers.

Despite the large number of ants, several threats hand over their existence, the most severe being the destruction and fragmentation of habitats, the use of pesticides and other chemicals, the presence of other invasive species, and climate change.