The estimated insect to human ratio is 200 million specimens per every man, woman, and child on the planet.
And now, large insect armies are gathering across thousands of Irish homes, due in part to the long spell of severe weather of recent times.
Mass concentrations of Pharaoh ants and the common garden black ant may now be found indoors, leading to some nasty surprises.
Pharaoh ants, in particular, have a preference for warm and air-conditioned environments such as hospitals, where primary infestations may lead to secondary ones as either patients or staff may inadvertedly carry some specimens home. Once they take residence in a dwelling, the insects may set up multiple nests, making them harder to eradicate completely.