Do Ants Live in Colonies?
WouterWhether ants live in colonies or not depends on their species. Different species of ants live in different environments. Some ants live in trees while others live in underground tunnels. Other ants are involved in agriculture. Some species of ants are predators while others are herbivores. The differences in ant species determine their characteristics.
Most ants live in colonies. This allows them to compete more successfully. Ant colonies can contain millions of ants. These colonies provide ants with the opportunity to work together for the betterment of the group. Some ants also practice social parasitism.
Most ant colonies are made up of worker ants. These workers take care of the colony’s food supply, protect the queen from predators, and ensure that the queen’s offspring will survive. They also help the queen lay eggs.
Ant colonies also contain a reproductive caste. These ants have a role in building new colonies. The reproductives are also the ants that make up the female part of the colony. They mate once and are destined to be the longest-lived members of the new colony.
Another caste is the warriors. They are larger than the rest of the group. They have strong tentacles. They often attack other ant colonies to occupy new territories.
The third caste is the builders. These ants are responsible for the structure of the anthill. They also make sure the humidity and temperature of the anthill is correct. They build tunnels and connect rooms to the passages. They also repair the roofs.
