No, ants do not leave if the queen dies. The ant colony will eventually die out.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Ant colonies are highly structured societies dependent on the queen for reproduction. When the queen dies, the colony faces a serious crisis. The existing worker ants, all female and sterile, cannot reproduce.
- No New Ants: Without a queen, no new eggs are laid, so the population gradually dwindles as older ants die.
- Continuing Duties: The worker ants continue to perform their duties, such as foraging for food and tending to the remaining brood (if any) until their natural lifespan ends. They do not typically abandon the nest or seek out a new colony.
- Eventual Collapse: The colony will slowly shrink in size and activity until it eventually collapses entirely due to lack of replacement workers. They will keep bringing resources back to their settlement until they die.
In short, the death of the queen signals the eventual demise of the entire colony.
