What Do Ants Feed the Queen?
WouterTypically, queen ants feed on proteins, fats, and honeydew produced by other insects. Their food supply also includes liquids. They regurgitate food to transport it back to the nest.
The number of queens in an ant colony can vary significantly. In fact, a recent study estimated that the Formica yessensis ant species contains as many as one million queens.
Queens are the founders of ant colonies, and they play a vital role in the caste system. Their role is to mate with males and lay eggs. They will usually mate with several males at a time during the day. Some queens also care for young workers.
Workers are sterile. They are responsible for the peaceful operation of the colony. They do this by foraging for food, cleaning up waste, and caring for the young. They also feed the queen.
Ant colonies are self-organizing. The queen does not make decisions on food distribution. When the colony needs more ants, the queen will lay male eggs. She will also search for a male ant outside of the colony to avoid inbreeding.
Depending on the species of ant, the queen may be larger than other ants. Queens may have up to four wings. They may also have stingers.
Typically, queen ants feed on protein and fats, but their diet is very variable. They may eat honeydew produced by other insects, or they may eat sweets.
Their diet is very important to the colony’s survival. Ants will always try to find food. When they find food, they eat it as soon as possible. They will then regurgitate it to distribute it to other ants.
