When Does Ants Mate?
WouterDuring mating season, the queens of ant colonies release swarms of virgin males into the wild. This is called a nuptial flight. The males fly for an unknown distance before they enter the colony. This flight synchronizes the females to maximise their chances of mating. The timing of the flight depends on the weather conditions.
A large number of swarms are lost to predators. These swarms are usually captured by other ants. They can be eaten by birds or drowned in the lake.
During mating season, a number of colonies will gather at specific mating sites. The mating sites can be prominent landscape features. A common trigger for a nuptial flight is rain. This makes the ground moist and makes excavating easier for the queens.
The queens of ant colonies spend many days residing in chambers. This is where the first brood of larvae is born. The queens are capable of producing thousands of inbred offspring. The queens can live for up to 30 years.
After mating, the females fly off to find a suitable nest. They then excavate a nest. The queen then lays eggs and grows into a sterile female worker ant. They then continue to reproduce long after the male mate has died.
The worker ants take care of the colony. They care for the brood, feed the larvae, and defend the colony. They also find sugar and take it back to the nest.
The larger females tend to mate with the larger males. Females also lay more eggs than workers. The eggs are larger and more fertile.
