What organs and structures do ants have?

	What organs and structures do ants have?
	Ants are very often seen around us. Have you ever looked closely at the body of an ant? 　Ants are so small that a quick look at their bodies will not allow you to understand how they are constructed from small organs such as eyes and a mouth. Let's examine the structure of an ant's body through a magnifying glass.
	An ant of the Camponotus japonicus species taking care of its antennae: The antennae are the sense organ that ants use to smell and taste.

	The body structure of the ant bears a strong resemblance to that of bees and wasps. However, bees and wasps have wings, whereas most ants are wingless (see page 14). Ants dig tunnels in the soil or through logs and live inside them, so wings might have degenerated and disappeared because of their disuse. There are many insects and small creatures bearing a strong resemblance to ants, including termites and Myrmarachne japonica＊. However, differences in body structure are seen between the ants and these creatures. The ant body is characterized by one or two projections (petioles) between the thorax and the gaster. ＊The spider is not classified as an insect because it has eight legs.	There are many insects and small creatures which bear a strong resemblance to ants. Termites (upper right), Mutilla mikado Cameron (lower right), Megalopaederus poweri Sharp (upper left) and Myrmarachne japonica resemble ants very closely.