Winged ants are a common sight, often prompting questions about their identity and purpose. Understanding these forms clarifies their life cycle and ecological role within an ant colony.
Alates: The Winged Ants
The winged ants observed are known as alates, the reproductive members of an ant colony. These include male ants and virgin queen ants, which possess wings for a temporary period.
These individuals emerge from mature colonies, often in large numbers. Their winged state is a temporary phase, essential for their primary biological function. After this period, their wings are no longer needed.
The Purpose of Wings: Nuptial Flight
The wings of alates serve one purpose: the nuptial flight, also known as the mating flight. This synchronized event involves male and virgin queen alates from various colonies. The flight ensures genetic diversity by facilitating inter-colony breeding away from the original nest.
During this flight, male alates transfer genetic material to the virgin queens. Following mating, male alates typically die. The fertilized queen alates then establish a new colony.
Ants vs. Termites: A Key Distinction
Winged ants are often confused with winged termites due to their similar appearance during their dispersal flights. However, several distinct anatomical features differentiate them. One noticeable difference lies in their antennae: winged ants have elbowed, or bent, antennae, while winged termites possess straight antennae.
Another distinguishing characteristic is their body structure. Ants exhibit a constricted, “pinched” waist between their thorax and abdomen, giving them a segmented appearance. Termites, in contrast, have a broad, uniform waist, making their body appear more cylindrical. Furthermore, ants have forewings that are noticeably larger than their hindwings, whereas termites have two pairs of wings that are roughly equal in size and shape.
What Happens After the Flight?
Following the nuptial flight, the fate of the male and female alates diverges significantly. As mentioned, male alates typically perish shortly after mating, having completed their reproductive contribution. The fertilized queen alates, however, have a different destiny.
Upon landing after the mating flight, the newly fertilized queen sheds her wings, often by breaking them off at a pre-determined fracture point near the base. She then seeks a suitable location to establish a new colony, such as a crevice in the soil or under a rock. This wingless queen will then begin laying eggs and nurturing the first generation of worker ants, becoming the sole reproductive individual of the nascent colony.