Some black ants do have wings, but only for a brief period in their lives. The individuals seen flying are the reproductive members of the colony, known as alates, not the common worker ants typically found foraging. These temporary wings are an adaptation for the dispersal and establishment of new colonies. Understanding which ants develop wings and why they lose them reveals the complex social structure and reproductive strategy that defines the ant life cycle.
The Reproductive Caste and Wing Development
Ant colonies divide individuals into distinct castes, each with a specialized role. The majority consists of sterile, permanently wingless female worker ants, which handle all tasks from foraging to nest maintenance. The winged individuals, or alates, are produced only when the colony reaches maturity and is ready to reproduce. These alates include virgin queens (gynes) and males (drones).
Wing development indicates the alates’ sexual maturity and reproductive potential. They develop from pupae provisioned with the resources necessary for flight musculature and structures. For instance, the black garden ant (Lasius niger) produces these winged forms in large numbers during the summer months. The wings are the mechanism for the species to disperse and prevent inbreeding.
Male alates, produced from unfertilized eggs, are generally smaller and exist solely for mating. Female alates, the potential future queens, are larger and possess more substantial bodies and wings to support the energy demands of their imminent flight. These virgin queens will carry the complete blueprint for a new colony.
The Nuptial Flight and Colony Establishment
The purpose of developing wings is to participate in the “nuptial flight,” a synchronized mating swarm that ensures genetic exchange across colonies. This airborne event is triggered by specific environmental cues, typically warm, humid weather following rain. The timing is important because moist soil makes it easier for a newly mated queen to dig a chamber and begin her work.
During the flight, winged males and virgin queens leave their nests and meet high in the air to mate. Queens often mate with multiple males to secure a diverse supply of sperm, which she stores in a specialized internal organ called the spermatheca. This single mating event provides the queen with enough sperm to fertilize eggs for the rest of her life.
Immediately after mating, the male alates perish. The newly fertilized queen descends and performs dealation, actively shedding her wings. She breaks them off at a pre-weakened joint near the thorax, signifying her transition to a sedentary colony founder. The now-wingless queen seeks a sheltered location and uses the obsolete flight muscles as a source of energy and protein to sustain her first brood of workers.
Telling the Difference Between Winged Ants and Termites
Winged ants are frequently mistaken for swarming termites, which also develop temporary wings for reproductive flights. Correct identification is important because while ants are generally harmless, termites can cause structural damage to homes. A close visual inspection of the insect’s body structure provides three reliable distinguishing features.
Waist
The most noticeable difference is the insect’s waist, the connection between the thorax and the abdomen. Winged ants possess a distinct, thin, and constricted “pinched” waist, giving them a highly segmented appearance. Winged termites, in contrast, have a thick, broad waist, making their body appear uniform in width.
Antennae
Examining the antennae offers another clear distinction. Ants have elbowed or “bent” antennae, which form a sharp angle. Termites, however, have straight antennae that look like a string of tiny beads.
Wings
The wings themselves differ significantly in size and shape. A winged ant has two pairs of wings where the front pair is noticeably larger and longer than the hind pair. Termites have two pairs of wings that are nearly identical in size and shape, often extending well past the end of their body.