How Long Do Harvester Ants Live?
WouterAmong the most commonly found ant species are the harvester ants. They are known for their seed-collecting behaviour and their painful sting. They are also known for their high levels of proteinaceous venom.
The average lifespan of a harvester ant queen is 15 to 20 years. However, some queens have been known to live for up to 40 years.
Harvester ants belong to the genus Pognomyrmex. They are reddish in color and have a distinctive two-segmented stalk. The worker ants have elbowed antennae and large mandibles. They are about 1/4 to 1/2-inch long.
Harvester ants live in large colonies. They have been known to build nests that are as deep as 3.7 meters. The queen stays deep inside the colony to protect herself from predators.
During the larva stage, harvester ants develop through a number of instars. The larvae are white and are shaped like crookneck squashes. During this stage, the ants will eat many eggs and increase their body size.
Once the larvae are ready to pupate, the ants will become adults. The ants have a psammaphore, a fringe of hairs on the underside of their head. The ants also breathe through holes in their bodies.
The lifespan of ants is dependent on the population of the colony. If the colony is large, it will grow and produce more worker ants. The worker ants are smaller than the queen ants.
The queen ants help the workers with their physical stamina. They also protect the colony.
