Queen ants have wings so that they can mate with male ants and produce offspring. The wings allow the queen to travel long distances to find a suitable mate. Once the queen has mated she will lose her wings and become the ruler of the colony.
How do queen ants get their wings?
The wings of a queen ant develop from winged males who transfer their sperm to the queen during a nuptial flight.
How many times do queen ants mate?
A queen ant typically mates only once in her lifetime.
What is the purpose of a queen ant’s wings?
The primary purpose of a queen ant’s wings is to allow her to mate.
After she mates she will return to the nest and chew her wings off.
How long do queen ants live?
Queen ants can live for many years typically 10-15 years.
How far do queen ants fly when they mate?
Queen ants typically mate within their own nest but they have been known to fly up to several miles to find a mate.
How many eggs does a queen ant lay in her lifetime?
A queen ant can lay millions of eggs in her lifetime.
What do the eggs of a queen ant turn into?
The eggs of a queen ant turn into larvae which then turn into either worker ants or new queens.
How do worker ants help the queen?
Worker ants help the queen by gathering food caring for the larvae and building and maintaining the nest.
What do queen ants eat?
Queen ants typically eat honey and other sweet foods.
How do queen ants care for their larvae?
Queen ants typically care for their larvae by feeding them cleaning them and protecting them from predators.
