Where Does Ants Go in Winter?
WouterDuring the cold winter months, ants need to find shelter to survive. They are social insects, and they seek warmth to survive. In addition, they store carbohydrates and fats in their bodies to help them survive through the winter months.
During the warmer months, ants are out and about, foraging for food, but once the cold weather sets in, they are inactive. They hide in their nests, in the soil, or in the wood of trees, where they can survive. They may also go food hunting.
Ants are exothermic, meaning that they produce heat with their bodies. When the temperature drops, they enter a metabolic state called diapause. During diapause, they become sluggish, and do not eat or drink. During diapause, ants do not lay eggs. Instead, ants cluster together and generate heat to survive through the winter.
Ants also build underground nests, which they use to stay warm. The queens of ant colonies live twice as long as the workers. They also eat a protein-rich substance to produce eggs. These ants may aggressively respond to other ants invading their unique foraging time.
Ants are not normally seen during the winter months. However, some ants are known to thrive in colder climates. Carpenter ants, for example, thrive in houses with wood. They clump together when the wood is porous. Then, they resume foraging once the weather warms.
Some species of ants also seek out warmer places to hide during the winter. They may bring a swarm indoors in search of food or water.
