{"id":2524,"date":"2022-04-06T21:10:17","date_gmt":"2022-04-06T13:10:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/?p=2524"},"modified":"2022-08-15T05:23:44","modified_gmt":"2022-08-14T21:23:44","slug":"can-queen-ants-fly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/can-queen-ants-fly\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Queen Ants Fly?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Queens are among the two ant castes capable of flight. As virgins, most queen ants have wings which allow them to fly out of their nests and participate in a nuptial flight where they swarm and mate with other reproductives.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article we\u2019ll discuss how and why queen ants fly. We\u2019ll also discuss the different types of queen ants to find out if all of them are capable of flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_64 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/can-queen-ants-fly\/#How_Are_Queen_Ants_Capable_Of_Flight\" title=\"How Are Queen Ants Capable Of Flight?\">How Are Queen Ants Capable Of Flight?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/can-queen-ants-fly\/#Can_All_Queen_Ants_Fly\" title=\"Can All Queen Ants Fly?\">Can All Queen Ants Fly?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/can-queen-ants-fly\/#Why_Do_Some_Queens_Fly\" title=\"Why Do Some Queens Fly?\">Why Do Some Queens Fly?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/can-queen-ants-fly\/#Related_Questions\" title=\"Related Questions\">Related Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/can-queen-ants-fly\/#How_Do_Queen_Ants_Grow_Wings\" title=\"How Do Queen Ants Grow Wings?\">How Do Queen Ants Grow Wings?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/can-queen-ants-fly\/#Can_Ants_Fly\" title=\"Can Ants Fly?\">Can Ants Fly?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/can-queen-ants-fly\/#Summary_Can_Queen_Ants_Fly\" title=\"Summary: Can Queen Ants Fly?\">Summary: Can Queen Ants Fly?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Are_Queen_Ants_Capable_Of_Flight\"><\/span>How Are Queen Ants Capable Of Flight?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In most species, queen ants emerge from the pupal stage as fully winged adults. These queens are called alates, winged reproductive ants which at certain times of the year participate in mating flights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The wings of these alates are attached to the thorax where flight muscles contract and control wing movement, moving them up and down to allow for flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_All_Queen_Ants_Fly\"><\/span>Can All Queen Ants Fly?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/how-do-ants-reproduce-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"how do ants reproduce\" class=\"wp-image-2391\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/how-do-ants-reproduce-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/how-do-ants-reproduce-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/how-do-ants-reproduce-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/how-do-ants-reproduce.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:..._ant_--_queen_weaver_ant_(6185121219).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dinesh Valke from Thane, India<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.antwiki.org\/wiki\/Caste_Terminology\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.antwiki.org\/wiki\/Caste_Terminology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Not all queens are capable of flight<\/a>. In alates, the ability to fly is reserved only for virgin queens. After mating, these queens shed their wings because they become useless and rather burdensome underground where queens burrow and stay for the rest of their lives to lay eggs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some <a href=\"https:\/\/elifesciences.org\/articles\/01539\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">queens also convert and use their wing muscles as food<\/a> for the first generation of workers. So even if they did keep their wings, they\u2019ve already lost their ability to fly anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are also queen ants which mature with short non-functional wings or emerge from the pupal stage with no wings at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Queens that emerge with no wings are called ergatoid queens. These queens are characterized by the lack of wing muscles and reduced worker-like thoraxes. They\u2019re found in at least 49 ant genera including <em>Leptogenys<\/em> and <em>Ocymrmex<\/em> ants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, queens that emerge with short non-functional wings are brachypterous queens. The wings of these queens are often broken within hours of emergence, but wing stubs and unused flight sclerites remain, giving the impression that they\u2019re capable of flying.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These flightless queens are typically found in polygynous ant species wherein queens simply mate near or within their nests. With these species, mating flights are bypassed due to the costs of dispersal, and therefore, queens don\u2019t need to grow wings to reproduce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Do_Some_Queens_Fly\"><\/span>Why Do Some Queens Fly?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike polygynous ant species, monogynous ants generally adapt the nuptial flight as their reproductive strategy. As such, their queens need to grow wings and fly out to swarm and <a href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/how-do-ants-reproduce\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2389\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mate with other reproductive ants<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ability to fly allows them to disperse, a key characteristic of mating flights. Through dispersal, these queens are able to locate and colonize new areas and resources. It also allows them to nest away from their maternal nests and prevent potential competition and conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lastly, dispersal also allows these queens to avoid inbreeding which research has shown to be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/6800846\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">detrimental to their overall fitness<\/a>. After inbreeding for a number of generations, colonies begin to show signs of inbreeding depression as characterized by increased brood mortality and shortened queen lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So beyond swarming and mating, queen ants fly to increase their chances of survival. The ability to fly allows them to expand to suitable territories where they can establish and grow new colonies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Related_Questions\"><\/span>Related Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/what-happens-when-the-queen-ant-dies-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"what happens when the queen ant dies\" class=\"wp-image-2523\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/what-happens-when-the-queen-ant-dies-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/what-happens-when-the-queen-ant-dies-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/what-happens-when-the-queen-ant-dies-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/what-happens-when-the-queen-ant-dies.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Ant_Queen_-_Flickr_-_treegrow_(1).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CC BY 2.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_Queen_Ants_Grow_Wings\"><\/span>How Do Queen Ants Grow Wings?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Queen ants don\u2019t grow wings as in the sense that wings suddenly erupt out of their thoraxes when it&#8217;s time to mate. Instead, they\u2019re born with them and they emerge out the pupal stage as winged reproductive ants, that is given that the species produces winged alates. Otherwise, they may not be born with wings at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_Ants_Fly\"><\/span>Can Ants Fly?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-ants-have-wings\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2501\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Some ants can fly<\/a>. As we\u2019ve already determined, the queens of many ant species are born with wings and are capable of flying. Aside from these queens, ants also produce winged <a href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-do-male-ants-do\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2506\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reproductive males<\/a> which also fly and participate in the nuptial flight. Worker ants are the only ants which are constantly flightless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Summary_Can_Queen_Ants_Fly\"><\/span>Summary: Can Queen Ants Fly?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Most queen ants are born with wings and specialized flight muscles which allow them to fly and participate in the nuptial flight. There are some queens however, particularly those from polygynous species, that are born wingless or with short non-functional wings. These queens are called brachypterous and ergatoid queens, respectively.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Queens are among the two ant castes capable of flight. As virgins, most queen ants have wings which allow them to fly out of their nests and participate in a nuptial flight where they swarm and mate with other reproductives. In this article we\u2019ll discuss how and why queen ants fly. We\u2019ll also discuss the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2525,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2524"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2524"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2524\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}