The origin of ants
The conclusions of recent studies have demonstrated that ants are closely related to bees and share a common ancestor – Aculeates (Stinging wasps). Ants originated 168–140 million years ago, when the earth was still inhabited by dinosaurs. The boom in the diversity of species occurred later – along with the evolution of flowering plants, around 100 million years ago.
Phylogenetic Tree of Latvian Hymenoptera
Systematics of ants
Domain
Eukaryota (Eukaryotes)
Kingdom
Animalia (Animals)
Subkingdom
Eumetazoa (Metazoans)
Phylum
Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum
Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class
Insecta (Insects)
Subclass
Pterygota (Winged insects)
Order
Hymenoptera (Hymenopterans)
Suborder
Apocrita
Infraorder
Aculeata (Stinging wasps)
Family
Formicidae (Ants)