Antarctica is the only continent on Earth with no native ants.

Ants are ectotherms. This means their body temperature depends on the air around them. In Antarctica, temperatures have dropped as low as -128.6°F (-89.2°C). At these temperatures, the liquids inside an ant's body would freeze instantly.Most ants need temperatures of at least 50°F (10°C) to stay active. They also need soil or wood to build their nests. About 98% of Antarctica is covered by an ice sheet that is 1.9 kilometers thick. This leaves no place for ants to tunnel or hide.There are over 12,000 species of ants in the rest of the world. Their total weight is roughly equal to the weight of all 8 billion humans. Even with so many ants on Earth, none can survive the Antarctic climate. The only insect native to the continent is a tiny wingless midge.This midge has a natural antifreeze in its body to survive the cold. Ants do not have this biological protection. Biologist E.O. Wilson noted that Antarctica is one of the only places ants do not rule. Sometimes ants arrive at research stations in food crates, but they cannot survive outside in the snow.