Scientists estimate that there are more than 20,000 species of ants. The species range in size from 1 mm long to 38 mm long and live in most environments. The diets of ants range from flowers and seeds to fluids from their own larva. Ants have been able to successfully inhabit so many different environments because- They have unlimited resources in their environments Gene flow occurs easily between populations They are small and can inhabit any area They can survive in many different soil types