Ants and Human Society:
Ants: Good or Bad for Humans?
Good:
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Bad:
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Overall... ants benefit humans more than they harm them
Ants and the Pest Control Industry:
Ants are the most common household "pest" complained about. According to IBISWorld, an organization that studies different sectors in the economy, the pest control sector in the United States is an $11 billion industry which employs over 110,000 people. The industry in the last five years has grown by about 2%. Whether this is through professional pest control services or through store bought pest controlling agents, it is clear that the U.S. does not like its bugs. It is interesting that ants which generally are not harmful to humans are the most complained about pest.
Ants are the most common household "pest" complained about. According to IBISWorld, an organization that studies different sectors in the economy, the pest control sector in the United States is an $11 billion industry which employs over 110,000 people. The industry in the last five years has grown by about 2%. Whether this is through professional pest control services or through store bought pest controlling agents, it is clear that the U.S. does not like its bugs. It is interesting that ants which generally are not harmful to humans are the most complained about pest.
Ant Bites
Generally speaking, ant bites are relatively harmless. There are a couple species of ants whose bites can kill small animals and in rare cases, humans. Fire ants are one of those species. Fire ants attack can cause death in 5% of cases. This is due to a severe allergic reaction in which people's throats swell and they suffocate.
Formicarium...AKA Ant Farms
A formicarium is a container designed for the study of ants and their behavior. Formicariums were sold commercially beginning in the 1920s. In 1956, Milton Levine coined the term ant farm when he was inspired to improve the formicarium after a 4th of July picnic. Levine trademarked the term with his company, Uncle Milton Industries. In the early 2000s, Scott Adams the creator of the comic strip, Dilbert received numerous letters from Uncle Milton Industries' lawyers over using the term ant farm in one his comic strips. In reaction, Adams published the following comic strip...