How Are All Ants the Same?
WouterDespite the vast number of different species of ants, they all share the same basic body structure. The body is divided into three segments: the head, the abdomen, and the thorax. They are also packed with muscles. The mesosoma includes the thorax, the front part of the abdomen, and the petiole. These body parts work together to power three pairs of legs.
Several different species of ants have different body sizes and shapes. In general, these differences result from genetic variations, not from the environment. Nevertheless, some species have a monomorphic worker caste, and other species have polymorphic castes.
Workers are female ants that do many tasks for the colony. They gather food, build a nest, and perform other duties. They also reproduce sexually. They also have the ability to produce new queens.
Queens are reproductive females that lay eggs for the colony. They also mate with males outside their own colony. They use sperm from the first mating to fertilize all the eggs in their colony. They store the sperm in a pouch in the abdomen.
The colony dies when the queen dies. If there is a shortage of food, the colony will not produce a new queen. But, if there is plenty of food, the colony will still produce new queens.
A queen can live for many years. However, males may only live for a few weeks. They die after mating with a queen. Males have a small head and straight antennae. The thorax is usually larger than the abdomen, and the wings may not be present.
