What Are Ants?
WouterAmong the social insects, ants are characterized by their large colonies. They are classified into two groups: the worker and the queen. The workers carry out the tasks of the colony, while the queen does the laying of eggs.
Ants belong to the family Formicidae, which is part of the order Hymenoptera. They evolved from the ancestors of the vespoid wasps in the Cretaceous period.
Colonies of ants can range from a few to millions of ants. Ant colonies are like factories where the workers convert resources into products. They are also able to live peacefully in their nests.
Ant colonies can be very large, reaching several hundred million ants. However, they can also be very small. The average ant colony contains about 500,000 ants.
The workers are responsible for carrying food and other materials to the nest. They also tend to the queen. Workers are also able to produce eggs. They are usually younger than the other group members. However, the worker ants are also larger than the queen.
Worker ants have small ovaries, which are responsible for the production of eggs. The eggs are almost microscopic. They are carried by the workers to the pupal stage, where the ants undergo complete metamorphosis.
Workers also collect food crumbs. This enables them to build the nest. The nest is deep underground and has different chambers. The workers decide how to interact with their nestmates based on cues from the environment. The nest is usually protected by a hill. This hill helps maintain an even temperature.
