The winged ants that appear seasonally are the reproductive members of the colony, known as alates. These include gynes (females) and drones (males). They are produced by a mature colony when resources allow, signaling the species’ readiness to expand and propagate. The wings are a temporary biological adaptation serving one primary purpose: dispersal. Their subsequent loss marks the transition from a mobile agent to a sedentary colony founder.
The Role of Wings in Ant Dispersal
Wings allow the future queen to take part in the nuptial flight, a synchronized mass mating event that requires aerial mobility. This flight is the mechanism for genetic exchange, ensuring that new colonies are founded with genetic diversity. By flying, the gynes and drones can travel significant distances, preventing inbreeding by mating with individuals from different parent colonies.
The mass emergence of winged ants, often synchronized by environmental cues like temperature and recent rainfall, increases the chances of successful mating. After the flight, the female ant, now inseminated and carrying a lifetime supply of sperm, must rapidly disperse away from her original nest. This distance minimizes competition with the established parent colony and other closely related nests.
Male ants, or drones, also possess wings for their sole role in this reproductive flight. Their existence is brief, serving only to mate with females from other colonies before dying soon after. The female ant, however, uses her wings to travel far, land, and begin establishing her own lineage.
How the Queen Physically Sheds Her Wings
Immediately following the successful mating flight, the inseminated female must shed her wings in a process called dealation. The wings are removed at a pre-formed structural weakness located at the base of the wing, near the thorax joint. This specialized fracture point makes the removal efficient and precise.
The physical act involves the queen twisting her body, pulling the wings with her legs, or pushing against obstacles like soil or small stones. This strenuous action causes the wings to snap off cleanly at the basal suture. The resulting scars, small stubs left on the thorax, are permanent indicators that the female has mated and is now a true queen.
This self-mutilation transforms the insect from a flyer to a digger. The speed of the removal is important, as wings would be a hindrance in the underground environment where the new nest will be constructed. The entire process is a rapid, irreversible step that signals the beginning of her new life phase.
Why Shedding is Necessary for Colony Founding
The disappearance of the wings is a biological necessity rooted in resource management and the transition to a sedentary lifestyle. The queen must survive an initial founding period without foraging, relying entirely on stored energy to lay her first batch of eggs and tend to her young. Shedding the wings provides a substantial internal energy source for this claustral founding stage.
The large flight muscles that power the wings are rich in protein and fat, which become metabolically expensive once flight is no longer required. By breaking off the wings, the queen triggers the reabsorption and breakdown of these superfluous muscle tissues. This process converts the muscle biomass into high-quality nutrients and fuel.
The metabolized energy from the flight muscles is used to sustain the queen during the weeks or months she is sealed underground. This fuel allows her to lay the first generation of worker ants and provides the nourishment for the developing larvae. The internal recycling of these proteins is a highly efficient strategy, allowing her to provision her offspring without leaving the safety of the founding chamber.
In the confines of the initial burrow, wings would present a physical liability, easily becoming damaged or attracting fungal growth. Their removal streamlines the queen’s body, making it easier for her to excavate, navigate, and maneuver within the tight, self-sealed underground chamber. This commitment to an underground life is solidified by the loss of the wings.