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After approximately eight weeks, and again this varies according to species and ambient temperatures, the adult ant emerges from the cocoon looking very pale and soft. A newly born Lasius niger ant is almost white at first but after a few hours it will darken to black and it's exoskeleton will harden.
The particular job that each worker does within the colony depends on its age. New ants tend the queen and brood within the security of the depths of the nest. As the ant gets older so it will change jobs which take it nearer the surface of the ground until, nearer the end of its life, the ant will leave the safety of the nest and forage outside. This is a very cost effective way of life for the ants as it makes more sense to send an ant out into the dangers of the outside world that is far more experienced and nearing the end of its life, rather than send out a worker who is only a few weeks old.
The life span of the ant varies from caste to caste, and species to species. The workers of some species live only for a few weeks, whereas other may live for several years. The queen of the tiny Pharaoh ant, Monomorium pharoanis, may live for only three months, but the queen of Lasius niger can live for up to 15 years or so. Incidentally, the record for ant longevity is held by a queen of Lasius niger who, in a German laboratory nest, lived for 29 years.
The particular job that each worker does within the colony depends on its age. New ants tend the queen and brood within the security of the depths of the nest. As the ant gets older so it will change jobs which take it nearer the surface of the ground until, nearer the end of its life, the ant will leave the safety of the nest and forage outside. This is a very cost effective way of life for the ants as it makes more sense to send an ant out into the dangers of the outside world that is far more experienced and nearing the end of its life, rather than send out a worker who is only a few weeks old.
The life span of the ant varies from caste to caste, and species to species. The workers of some species live only for a few weeks, whereas other may live for several years. The queen of the tiny Pharaoh ant, Monomorium pharoanis, may live for only three months, but the queen of Lasius niger can live for up to 15 years or so. Incidentally, the record for ant longevity is held by a queen of Lasius niger who, in a German laboratory nest, lived for 29 years.
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© Alex Wild
© Alex Wild
© Alex Wild