The ant colony: structure and roles

You’ve undoubtedly seen ants crawling around on the sidewalk or maybe inside your home or business, but how much do you know about the ant colony these little insects call their community? Ants are what’s known as social – in other words, they reside in groups. You may dislike ants as pests, but the way they operate is really pretty intriguing. It’s time to learn more about how ant colonies work. There’s a lot to learn about ants, but we’ll explore the ant colony structure and the duties ants complete.

Do you have an ant infestation on your property? Contact your local Western Exterminator office online to set up a time for someone to come check out the issue.

Queen ant

As central as the worker ants are, the queen ant holds a quite important role too. The queen stores sperm in a pouch in her abdomen. She uses this sperm to fertilize her eggs. If an egg is unfertilized, it will become a male – whereas if it is fertilized, it will become a female. Queen ants may live an average of 10 to 15 years.

Beyond reproduction, the queen plays a crucial role in maintaining the stability of the ant colony structure. In species that practice polygyny, multiple queens coexist, allowing the colony to grow quickly and establish multiple nests. Monogyny colonies have only one queen, resulting in a more centralized structure.

When a colony of ants matures, young winged queens, known as alates, leave the nest in search of a new nest site. After mating, these queens shed their wings and begin the process of founding a new colony. During this phase, the queen relies on stored nutrients, including proteins from her now-unused wing muscles, to lay the first batch of eggs and sustain the early development of her colony.

Worker ants 

While the queen lays eggs, the workers do tasks that help the colony of ants survive. In the colony, worker ants can have different roles. Some workers tend to the eggs, larvae, and pupae (ant phases).

Worker ants also clean the eggs and usually feed the larvae. It’s noteworthy that queen ants receive more food when they are larvae and worker ants receive less. Worker ants that tend to the brood do not often depart from the nest.

This division of labor ensures that the developing ants receive proper care and nutrition, which is vital for the ant colony structure. Some worker ants also regulate the temperature and humidity of the nest by moving the brood to different chambers, ensuring optimal conditions for growth. The constant care and maintenance provided by worker ants allow the colony to thrive and expand over time.

Other ants leave the nest to forage for food. The biggest ants go the farthest away from the nest. Interestingly, these ants typically leave chemicals behind that help them know what route to take. Additionally, worker ants build the ant nest. Ants also use their antennae to sense chemicals; this is part of how they share information. When the ant population grows, the ants make the nest bigger. Why not check out some more interesting facts about ants?

Flying ants

Flying ants emerge when it's time for them to breed. A queen ant and several male ants will leave the original colony on a nuptial flight. When the ants find a suitable spot, they land, discard their wings, and begin building a new nest. Eventually, the worker ants will build the colony around the queen, who will set about laying eggs so the colony can grow.

Flying ants are known to swarm throughout the course of a year when the young ants determine it's time to mate and start a new colony. This is why you'll suddenly see dozens of flying ants or ants with wings clinging to walls, curtains, windows, and elsewhere around your house. Flying ants are in search of an ideal location to begin this new colony and also for suitable mates. Soon after they find a suitable place to set up their new nest, their wings will drop off, and they'll go into hiding.

It’s important to note that termites also swarm, and knowing the difference between the two is crucial. While flying ants can be a nuisance, termites can seriously undermine structures and need to be dealt with swiftly. If you’re unsure whether you have flying ants or termites, get in touch with us.

Brood (larvae & pupae)

A colony of ants relies on its brood, which includes eggs, larvae, and pupae, for survival and expansion. Once the eggs hatch into larvae, worker ants feed and groom them, ensuring they develop properly. Larvae are entirely dependent on worker ants for nourishment. As they grow, they molt several times before reaching the pupal stage.

During pupation, young ants undergo metamorphosis, emerging as fully formed adults. The presence of a healthy brood is crucial to the success of an ant colony as it determines the colony's ability to expand and sustain itself. In some species, the brood is distributed among multiple chambers within the nest, a practice known as polydomy. The brood also plays a key role in the ant hive, contributing to the overall function of the colony.

Types of ant colonies

Ant colonies can be classified based on their social structure. Some species have a single queen, while others have multiple queens. The number of queens in a group of ants affects their colony’s organization and expansion rate.

• Monogyny: Colonies with a single queen. These colonies tend to be highly organized and centralized.
• Polygyny: Colonies with multiple queens, leading to rapid population growth and larger territories.
• Oligogyny: A structure where a few queens exist but maintain strict dominance hierarchies.
• Haplometrosis: The establishment of a colony that starts with a single foundress queen.

These structures also determine whether the ant colony structure supports expansion into new territories or remains more localized.

How do ant colonies communicate?

Ants rely heavily on pheromone signals to communicate within their colony. When a worker ant finds a food source, it releases pheromones to create a trail that other ants can follow. These chemical messages help coordinate foraging, defense, and nest-building activities.

Tactile communication also plays a role. Ants use their antennae to touch and interact with one another, sharing information about threats, food availability, and the ant colony structure. Some species even produce sounds by rubbing body parts together, a process called stridulation, to signal distress or coordinate actions. The efficiency of these communication methods helps maintain order within a colony of ants.

Nesting habits of ant colonies

The nest site of an ant colony varies by species. Some ants build intricate underground tunnels, while others create above-ground mounds, commonly referred to as anthills. In urban areas, ants may nest inside walls, beneath floors, or in gardens.

Nest structure is influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and predator presence. Certain species prefer moist soil, while others thrive in dry, sandy areas. The ability of ants to adapt their nest site to different environments makes them resilient and sometimes difficult to control. The success of an ant colony is directly tied to selecting an optimal nesting location.

Colony growth and life cycle

An ant colony's life cycle begins with a founding queen, which establishes a new colony after mating. She lays eggs that develop into larvae and eventually into worker ants. These first-generation worker ants take over foraging and nest maintenance, allowing the queen to focus solely on reproduction.

As the colony grows, specialized workers may emerge, including soldiers and foragers. Over time, reproductive ants (known as alate individuals) develop, leading to the formation of new colonies through swarming events. The colony size can range from a few hundred individual ants to millions, depending on the species. Swarming behavior is often influenced by the presence of reproductive ants within the colony.

Ant colony superorganisms

Ant colonies function as a superorganism, meaning individual ants operate as part of a larger system rather than as independent entities. Each ant performs a role that benefits the colony as a whole, with a division of labor ensuring efficiency. For example, some ants specialize in foraging while others focus on defense or brood care.

This high level of cooperation allows ant colonies to survive environmental changes, predation, and food shortages. The ability to adapt and reorganize is a key factor in the success of these eusocial insects (insects that live in cooperative groups). The strength of an ant colony relies on the seamless interaction of all its members to maintain the health and longevity of the colony.

Ant mating habits

The species dictates what time of year a colony is established. Swarmers commonly leave ant nests and go to a specific place. After they mate, queen ants take off their wings and begin a colony. The queen ant uses eggs, fat, and wing muscles for nourishment when beginning the colony. The earliest workers come into existence and tend to the young and make the nest larger.

How many ants are in a colony?

It depends on what species you’re talking about, but the count can be in the thousands, rising to millions for some supercolonies. Ant nests can be located underground or in places such as leaf litter. But a nest can also be located in a home.

Ants can also be hostile to ants from other species or other colonies. Some ants are also capable of stinging for defense from predators and to protect their area.

Ant problem?

Though ant colony structure is neat to read about, ants are certainly not so cool when they’ve infested your property. If you notice ants with wings swarming in your property, this could signify that an ant nest is located inside. It’s time for professional ant control.

You should feel secure knowing that we can handle your issues. A Western Exterminator expert can undertake an inspection of your property and provide the right treatment for you. Get in touch with us today to do away with pest ants!

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