Face to Face with Ants

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Caste: class to which an adult ant belongs.

Larva: the second, "worm-like" stage in the life cycle of insects that undergo complete metamorphosis (like caterpillars).

Larvae: plural of 'larva.'

Metamorphosis: dramatic change in body form... more

Molt: to shed the outer layer of the body.

Pupa: resting stage during which tissues are reorganized from larval form to adult form. The pupa is the third body form in the life cycle of insects that undergo complete metamorphosis (like caterpillars).

Pupae: plural of 'pupa'.

Queen: a female ant that lays eggs.

Worker: a female ant that performs jobs other than reproduction.

Ants undergo complete metamorphosis, passing through a sequence of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. 

life cycle

An ant’s life begins as an egg. Ant eggs are soft, oval, and tiny – about the size of a period at the end of a sentence. Not all eggs are destined to become adults – some are eaten by nestmates for extra nourishment.

An egg hatches into a worm-shaped larva with no eyes or legs. Larvae are eating machines that rely on adults to provide a constant supply of food. As a result, they grow rapidly, molting between sizes.

When a larva is large enough, it metamorphoses into a pupa. This is a stage of rest and reorganization. Pupae look more like adults, but their legs and antennae are folded against their bodies. They start out whitish and gradually become darker. The pupae of some species spin a cocoon for protection, while others remain uncovered, or naked.

Finally, the pupa emerges as an adult. Young adults are often lighter in color, but darken as they age. The process of development from egg to adult can take from several weeks to months, depending on the species and the environment. Did you know that ants, like all insects, are full-grown when they become adults? Their exoskeletons prevent them from getting any larger.

Furthermore, adult ants belong to one of three castes: queen, worker, or male.

Queens are females that were fed more as larvae. They are larger than workers and lay all the eggs in a colony – up to millions in some species! Queens initially have wings and fly to find a mate(s), but they tear them off before starting a new colony. A queen can live for decades under the right conditions.

Workers are females that were fed less as larvae. They do not reproduce, but perform other jobs, such as taking care of the brood, building and cleaning the nest, and gathering food. Workers are wingless and typically survive for several months.

Males have wings and fly to mate with queens. They live for only a few weeks and never help with the chores of the colony.

View Citation

You may need to edit author's name to meet the style formats, which are in most cases "Last name, First name."

Bibliographic details:

  • Article: Individual Life Cycle of Ants
  • Author(s): Tate Holbrook
  • Publisher: Arizona State University School of Life Sciences Ask A Biologist
  • Site name: ASU - Ask A Biologist
  • Date published: December 17, 2009
  • Date accessed: March 24, 2024
  • Link: https://askabiologist.asu.edu/individual-life-cycle

APA Style

Tate Holbrook. (2009, December 17). Individual Life Cycle of Ants. ASU - Ask A Biologist. Retrieved March 24, 2024 from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/individual-life-cycle

American Psychological Association. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/

Chicago Manual of Style

Tate Holbrook. "Individual Life Cycle of Ants". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 17 December, 2009. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/individual-life-cycle

MLA 2017 Style

Tate Holbrook. "Individual Life Cycle of Ants". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 17 Dec 2009. ASU - Ask A Biologist, Web. 24 Mar 2024. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/individual-life-cycle

Modern Language Association, 7th Ed. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/
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