Male ants, also known as drones, have a single purpose: to mate with the queen ant. During a process called the nuptial flight, male and female ants from different colonies take to the air in a large swarm. This event allows for genetic diversity within the ant population. The male ants release sperm into the queen's reproductive system during flight, which she stores and uses for her entire life to fertilize her eggs.
Once mating is complete, the male ant's life cycle ends. They die shortly after mating, often within hours or days. Male ants are considered expendable because they are relatively easy to produce in large numbers, and new males can be generated for each mating season.
The queen ant, on the other hand, will use the stored sperm to lay eggs that develop into worker ants, soldier ants, or new queens.
Here's a breakdown of the mating process:
- Nuptial flight: Male and female ants from different colonies take to the air in a massive swarm to mate.
- Mating: During the flight, male ants release sperm into the queen's reproductive system.
- Death: The male ants die shortly after mating, often within hours or days.
