![Picture](/uploads/2/6/7/9/26793858/6186478_orig.jpg)
3 main parts:
1. Head
2. Thorax
3. Abdomen (metasoma)
Physical Characteristics:
-2 long bowed antennae on top of their head
- pinched waists
-2 compound eyes
-6 legs, each has 3 joints
-head has large jaws that act as scissors
Other:
-life expectancy is 45-60 days
-can lift 20x their body weight
-over 10,000 species of ants
-thought to make up 10% of animal biological mass worldwide
-each colony has their own smell
-live in colonies that include 1,000s of individuals
-found in every continent except for Antarctica
- cannot chew or swallow food, they suck the juice then discard the dry part left over
-abdomen contains 2 stomaches,
Metamorphosis: Queen Ant: Male Ant:
-undergo 4 stages -one to each colony - die shortly after mating
1. Egg -spend most of their lives inside the nest laying eggs
2. Larva - large gaster contains reproductive system
3. Pupa. - born with wings, but they get torn off during mating
4. Adult.
Worker Ants:
- all are female and sterile
-minor and major
-Minor: smaller and preform general labor. Ex- taking care of young, building and cleaning nests, gathering food
-Major: larger and specialized for certain tasks. Ex- soldier ants protect their nests
1. Head
2. Thorax
3. Abdomen (metasoma)
Physical Characteristics:
-2 long bowed antennae on top of their head
- pinched waists
-2 compound eyes
-6 legs, each has 3 joints
-head has large jaws that act as scissors
Other:
-life expectancy is 45-60 days
-can lift 20x their body weight
-over 10,000 species of ants
-thought to make up 10% of animal biological mass worldwide
-each colony has their own smell
-live in colonies that include 1,000s of individuals
-found in every continent except for Antarctica
- cannot chew or swallow food, they suck the juice then discard the dry part left over
-abdomen contains 2 stomaches,
Metamorphosis: Queen Ant: Male Ant:
-undergo 4 stages -one to each colony - die shortly after mating
1. Egg -spend most of their lives inside the nest laying eggs
2. Larva - large gaster contains reproductive system
3. Pupa. - born with wings, but they get torn off during mating
4. Adult.
Worker Ants:
- all are female and sterile
-minor and major
-Minor: smaller and preform general labor. Ex- taking care of young, building and cleaning nests, gathering food
-Major: larger and specialized for certain tasks. Ex- soldier ants protect their nests