When Does Ants Lay Eggs?
WouterDepending on the species of ant, ant eggs are either fertilized or unfertilized. Both of these types of eggs are oval in shape and smooth on the surface. They are white in color and 0.5 mm in diameter. Some ant species lay their eggs in walls or in old sheds in their gardens.
Ants are highly specialized animals. They live in colonies and are dedicated to building a nest, feeding their fellow creatures, and protecting the colony. There are three castes within an ant colony. Each caste has a different role. Some workers forage for food, others build the nest, and others tend to the queen.
A worker ant’s lifespan is short. They spend most of their time collecting food, building their nest, and tending to the queen. Some workers also build elaborate tunnel systems. They offer protection to the queen and the colony.
Workers are female. The females are usually sterile. The males develop from haploid eggs. After sperm is transferred to the female, the male ant dies. The sperm is stored in the queen’s pouch on the abdomen.
Ant larvae, or worm-like larvae, develop from eggs. They molt several times and pupate after reaching a certain growth stage. The larvae are pale and have folded antennae. They have hooked hair that allows them to attach to other larvae and carry them.
After the larvae have developed into pupae, they are protected in cocoons. The pupae are a black dot on their end. After a few hours, the pupae darken their exoskeleton. They will emerge as adults after 6 to 10 weeks.
