Weak ants conquered Earth using sheer numbers

Ant evolution favored large colonies over individual strength. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Here's a fun (and creepy) fact: The Earth is home to approximately 20 quadrillion ants . To put zeroes on it, that's around 20,000,000,000,000,000 of the six-legged insects living all around us. How did such diminutive creatures attain their prominent--and ecologically vital -role on the planet?