What type of animals are ants closely related to?

Ants are closely related to bees and wasps because they share a common lineage within the order Hymenoptera. This order is known for its members having a similar body structure and social behaviors, particularly among species like ants and bees. All these insects tend to exhibit complex social structures and behaviors, making them part of the same evolutionary family. This connection is seen in their life cycles and mimetic characteristics as well.

The other options include animals from different taxonomic classifications that do not have the same shared lineage as ants. Moths and butterflies belong to the order Lepidoptera, while bats and rodents fall under the class Mammalia, which diverges significantly in terms of evolutionary path from insects. Spiders and scorpions are classified under the class Arachnida, which also has no direct evolutionary ties to ants within the insect classification. Thus, the close relation between ants, bees, and wasps highlights significant similarities in their genetic makeup and ecological roles, underlining why the choice of bees and wasps is the most accurate.