Worker ants are all sterile females. In many ant species workers are the only sterile females and the reproductive female caste (queens) is very small. Male ants called drones exist only to mate with new queens after which they die.
The basic structure of an ant colony is that the eggs are cared for by the workers the larvae are cared for by the workers and the pupae are cared for by the workers. Once an ant hatches from its egg it will go through three main stages of its life: larva pupa and adult. The workers will take care of the ant during each of these stages.
Larvae are the first stage of an ant’s life. They are born blind and helpless and cannot feed themselves. The workers will feed the larvae by chewing up food and regurgitating it into the mouth of the larva. The larvae will go through several molts or skin shedding before they become pupae.
Pupae are the second stage of an ant’s life. During this stage the ant’s body will change and grow into its adult form. The pupae are also born blind and helpless and cannot feed themselves. The workers will continue to care for the pupae by bringing them food and water.
Once the pupae have transformed into adults they will leave the pupal stage and become workers. Workers are the most common type of ant and their main job is to take care of the eggs larvae and pupae. Workers also collect food build and repair the nest and defend the colony from predators.
How many worker ants are female?
All of the worker ants are female.
What is the role of the female worker ant?
The female worker ant’s role is to take care of the eggs and larvae build and repair the nest forage for food and protect the colony.
How long do female worker ants live?
The average lifespan of a female worker ant is about 6 years.
How do female worker ants communicate?
Female worker ants communicate by using chemical signals called pheromones.
What do female worker ants eat?
Female worker ants eat a variety of things including other insects honeydew (a sweet substance secreted by aphids) and nectar.
How do female worker ants care for the eggs and larvae?
The female worker ants take care of the eggs and larvae by cleaning them feeding them and protecting them from predators.
How do female worker ants build and repair the nest?
Female worker ants build and repair the nest by using their mandibles (jaws) to move dirt rocks and other materials.
How do female worker ants forage for food?
Female worker ants forage for food by going out into the environment to find things like insects honeydew and nectar.
How do female worker ants protect the colony?
Female worker ants protect the colony by attacking and biting predators and by using their stingers to inject venom into predators.
What happens to female worker ants when they die?
When female worker ants die their bodies are usually taken outside of the nest and left in a garbage pile.
Do female worker ants mate?
No female worker ants do not mate.
Why don’t female worker ants mate?
Female worker ants do not mate because they do not have the reproductive organs necessary for mating.
How are new worker ants born?
New worker ants are born from the eggs that are laid by the queen ant.
How many eggs does the queen ant lay?
The queen ant can lay up to 2000 eggs per day.
What is the queen ant’s role?
The queen ant’s role is to lay eggs and produce new worker ants for the colony.
