Fire ant family: Developmental stages of imported fire ant. Photo by Bart Drees.
Overview
There are many different kinds of families. In this section you will learn about the different family members in a fire ant family and how they communicate with each other through pheromones. Don't forget to check out the vocabulary words and Learning Activities, too!
(Note: Some of the material in this section is adapted from IPMWorld)
Family Members
There are many different kinds of families. In a family of fire ants, called a colony, the family members include:
- One or more reproductive queens (queens that are able to lay eggs)
- Brood (eggs, larvae and pupae)
- Polymorphic (several sizes) workers
- Winged females and winged males
Among the sterile (unable to reproduce) workers, labor is divided by age and to a much lesser degree by size:
- Younger workers care for the developing brood.
- Middle-aged workers maintain and protect the colony.
- The oldest workers forage for food.
Vocabulary Words
- alates
- brood
- form
- instar
- larva
- mate
- molt
- monogyne
- nuptial
- oviposit
- polygyne
- polymorphic
- pupa
- Solenopsis invicta
- trophallaxis
Click the "Next" link below to learn more about life in a fire ant colony
