Do Ants Shed Their Wings After Mating?
WouterWhether ants shed their wings after mating depends on the species. Female ants will shed their wings once they have found a suitable nesting site. A queen ant will produce all eggs needed for the colony. The worker ants, on the other hand, produce eggs that are not fertilized.
If the queen ant produces a large number of eggs, she will produce wingless female worker ants. These workers will be responsible for caring for the queen’s offspring. After mating, the male ants will die.
Female ants can survive for several years. They will also lay a large number of eggs. However, they will never take flight again. They will use the defunct flying muscles to help them lay their eggs. They will also use these muscles as a source of nutrition.
There are more than 12,000 species of ants worldwide. They can be found in trees, wood, and ground level mounds. Most species have a nest in a hole in the ground. They are also attracted to heat and bright light.
Some species of ants, such as carpenter ants, tunnel through wood. They don’t eat wood, but instead leave behind sawdust. They are considered pests and can invade houses.
Ants can be classified into three castes, namely, the queen, the worker, and the reproductive. The queen is the largest of all ants. She lives for several years and produces thousands of eggs a day. She then lays all of these eggs and establishes a new colony.
