Ants are holometabolous insects: their life cycle passes through four distinct stages, each completely different from the others. Let’s look at the steps of their development, from the microscopic egg to the functional worker.
Stage 1: the egg
It all begins with the egg, laid by the queen. An ant egg measures between 0.3 and 1 mm depending on the species. It is yellowish-white, oval and sticky: workers cluster them into small packets to make them easier to carry.
Incubation time varies with temperature and species, generally 7 to 20 days. During this period, workers monitor the surrounding humidity and move the egg packets to the most suitable chambers.
Did you know that ant eggs are regularly licked and inspected by workers? It’s a parental-care behaviour that also transmits pheromones, helping the colony stay cohesive.
Stage 2: the larva
Once the egg hatches, the larva appears. It’s a small white grub, curved into a C, with no legs or eyes. The larva does just one thing: eat. It is fed constantly by the workers through trophallaxis (mouth-to-mouth regurgitation).
The larval stage lasts 2 to 8 weeks depending on species and temperature. The larva moults several times and grows considerably.
It’s during this stage that a crucial fate is decided: the amount and type of food received determines the individual’s destiny. A well-fed larva can become a queen; a standard larva becomes a worker; in dimorphic species, diet also determines whether the worker will be a minor or a major.
Stage 3: the pupa
At the end of its growth, the larva spins a silk cocoon (in some species such as Formica) or turns directly into a naked pupa (in others such as Lasius).
The pupa is immobile for 1 to 3 weeks. Inside, a complete metamorphosis takes place: larval organs are reabsorbed, while the legs, eyes, antennae and mandibles form. It’s the equivalent of the chrysalis in butterflies.
Stage 4: the adult emerges
After metamorphosis, the adult ant emerges from the cocoon or the pupal envelope. At first it is pale and soft. Its cuticle (exoskeleton) hardens and takes on its pigment over a few hours to a few days, giving it its final colour (black, brown, red depending on the species).
In the first hours, existing workers feed the young adult and “present” it to the rest of the colony. Once independent, it takes up its role (usually a nurse at first, then a forager later).
How long in total?
| Stage | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Egg | 7-20 days |
| Larva | 14-60 days |
| Pupa | 7-21 days |
| Total egg → adult | 4 to 14 weeks |
Three castes, one cycle
The cycle is identical for the colony’s three castes:
- Workers: sterile females, the majority of the colony
- Queens (gynes): future queens, larger, with wings (before the nuptial flight)
- Males: present only at the time of nuptial flights, dying after mating
Caste fate is decided essentially during the larval stage, under the influence of diet and the queen’s pheromones. A genuine biological marvel that has fascinated researchers for decades.
Leave a Reply