It is estimated that there are around 10000 ant species in the world with ants living on every continent except Antarctica. All ants are social insects that live in colonies and these colonies can range in size from just a few hundred ants to massive supercolonies consisting of millions of ants. So how do ant colonies work?
Each ant colony has three different types of ants: the queen the workers and the males. The queen is the only ant in the colony that can lay eggs and she can live for up to 20 years. The workers are sterile females that take care of the colony gathering food caring for the larvae and defending the colony from predators. The male ants serve no purpose other than to mate with the queen.
The queen ant lays her eggs in an underground chamber and the larvae hatch a few weeks later. The workers then care for the larvae feeding them and cleaning them until they pupate. Once they pupate the larvae transform into adult ants.
The workers run the day-to-day operations of the colony and are divided into different castes each with their own duties. For example some workers may specialize in gathering food while others defend the nest. The workers communicate with each other using a sophisticated system of chemical signals known as pheromones.
When a colony gets too big the workers will start to build new nests (or colonies) nearby. This process known as budding allows the colony to spread out and reduces the risk of the entire colony being wiped out by a disease or predator.
So that’s how ant colonies work! These incredibly complex and sophisticated social insects have captivated the attention of scientists for centuries and will continue to do so for many years to come.
How do ants communicate?
Ants communicate through chemical signals called pheromones.
How do ants know where to go?
Ants use pheromones to communicate to each other where food is and the best way to get there.
How do ants decide who does what?
Each ant has a specific role to play based on its age and experience.
How do ants build their nests?
Ants build their nests by digging tunnels and chambers underground.
What do ants eat?
Ants are omnivorous and will eat just about anything but prefer sweets.
How do ants care for their young?
The larval stage of an ant’s life is cared for by the adult workers in the colony.
How do ants protect themselves from predators?
Ants protect themselves by biting and stinging predators and by living in large colonies where there is safety in numbers.
What do ants do in the winter?
In the winter ants hunker down in their nests and don’t venture out much.
How do ants kill their prey?
Some ants spray their prey with a corrosive poison while others wrap them up in silk and suffocate them.
How do ants keep their colony clean?
Ants keep their colony clean by grooming themselves and each other and by carrying garbage out of the nest.
How do ants defend their nests?
Ants defend their nests by biting and stinging intruders and by plugging up holes in the nest with their bodies.
What diseases do ants carry?
Some ants can carry diseases like typhus and dysentery but they are not known to transmit these diseases to humans.
How long do ants live?
The average lifespan of an ant is about 2-3 years but some species of ant can live for up to 15 years.
How many ants are in a colony?
There can be up to several million ants in a single colony.
What is the queen’s role in the colony?
The queen’s role is to lay eggs and keep the colony going.
