Ants – Life Cycle, Caste System and Effective Extermination

Chmury Ozonu
Oct 15
2 min read

Ants are one of the most widespread insects on Earth, living under nearly every climate zone.

In Poland alone, more than 100 species of ants have been recorded (between 103 and 107 according to various sources), and that number continues to grow.

While ants play an important ecological role outdoors, inside homes or gardens they can become persistent and problematic pests.

Life Cycle of Ants

The development of ants goes through four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult (imago).

1. Egg

During the nuptial flight, a female ant collects sperm that will last her lifetime.

Afterwards, she sheds her wings, founds a colony and begins to lay eggs.

At first, she cares for the larvae herself, but once the first workers appear, they take over.

Fertilized eggs produce females and workers, while unfertilized eggs produce males.

2. Larva

The larvae, also called grubs, have no legs or eyes. Worker ants feed them protein-rich food.

During growth, they shed their skin several times, leaving behind cast shells.

3. Pupa

When a larva reaches the right size, it spins a cocoon around itself and transforms into a pupa.

In this stage, the ant does not feed but develops eyes and legs.

4. Imago

The adult ant initially appears pale, but as its exoskeleton hardens, it gains its natural coloration.

Ant Colony Structure

A mature ant colony consists of three main castes – workers, queens and males – each with different roles and physical features.

Workers

Wingless and sterile, they are responsible for all tasks that keep the colony running:

Caring for eggs and larvae
Building and defending the nest
Foraging for food

In some species, workers are further divided into:

Majors – responsible for defense and transport
Medias – construction and maintenance of the nest
Minors – tending to the brood

Queens

Queens hatch from special eggs and develop full reproductive organs.

After mating, the queen sheds her wings and focuses solely on laying eggs to expand the colony.

Males

Male ants (drones) develop from unfertilized eggs. Their only role is to mate with queens during the nuptial flight — after which they die.

Ants in Your Home – What to Do?

Ants can invade kitchens, bathrooms, pantries or gardens, nesting in small cracks, under floors or even behind tiles.

They multiply quickly and form large colonies, making DIY sprays or traps only a temporary fix.

To eliminate the source — the nest and the queen — professional intervention is essential.

Professional Ant Extermination

If ants have invaded your home or garden, don’t wait for them to spread further.

A professional pest control company will select the right treatment — gel baiting, spraying or ULV fogging — depending on the infestation and location.

Such treatment ensures lasting results and is completely safe for people and pets.