The queen ant is the center of the ant colony. She is the largest ant in the colony and her only job is to lay eggs. A mature queen can lay up to 2000 eggs per day. The eggs hatch into larvae which are cared for by the worker ants. The larvae eventually turn into pupae and then into adult ants.
The queen ant also produces a special chemical called pheromones. The pheromones are used to communicate with the other ants in the colony. They help the ants to know when to mate when to forage for food and when to defend the nest.
References:
“Ants – The Life of a Colony.” National Geographic Kids. N.p. n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2016.
“What Does the Queen Ant Do?” What Does the Queen Ant Do? N.p. n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2016.
What does the queen ant do?
The queen ant is responsible for reproduction in the colony.
How does the queen ant mate?
The queen ant mates with a flying drone ant from another colony.
What does the queen ant eat?
The queen ant eats honeydew which is a sugary substance secreted by aphids.
How does the queen ant lay eggs?
The queen ant lays eggs by extruding them from her abdomen.
How many eggs does the queen ant lay in her lifetime?
The queen ant can lay millions of eggs in her lifetime.
How long does the queen ant live?
The queen ant can live for many years up to 20 years in some cases.
How big is the queen ant?
The queen ant is usually the largest ant in the colony.
What is the queen ant’s role in the colony?
The queen ant is the center of the colony and all the ants work to support her.
How does the queen ant communicate with the other ants?
The queen ant communicates with the other ants through pheromones.
What is the queen ant’s job in the colony?
The queen ant’s job is to lay eggs and to care for the young.
How does the queen ant keep the colony alive?
The queen ant keeps the colony alive by producing eggs.
What would happen if the queen ant died?
If the queen ant died the colony would soon die out.
How does the queen ant protect the colony?
The queen ant protects the colony by leading the other ants in defense.
What do the other ants do for the queen?
The other ants work to gather food and build the nest for the queen.
How does the queen ant benefit from the colony?
The queen ant benefits from the colony by having a safe place to live and plenty of food.
