Contrary to rumors to the contrary, queen ants can also stay close to the surface of ant nests. How to find and recognize the queen.
How do I find the queen ant?
You can recognize the queen ant by her disproportionatebody size. In particular, thechest (thorax) in the middle is particularly large. Queen ants live in ant nests. During the swarm flight you can observe potential queens.
Where can I find the queen ant?
The queen ant is usually foundin the ant nest She is the only animal in the ant colony that lays eggs. Rumors keep circulating that the queen ant is deep in or even under the anthill. However, that doesn't have to be the case. Especially on warm days, the queen ant can often be found quite close to the surface or even occasionally sunbathes. During the active period you definitely have the chance to find the queen ant with the naked eye.
How do I recognize the queen ant?
The ant queen is characterized above all by herconsiderable body size. Compared to a normal worker, the animal is much larger. The animal can be up to 20 times larger than other ants. The large chest (thorax) is particularly noticeable. In the beginning, the queen ant also has wings. However, she throws this off. So wings are not a necessary identifying feature. If the animals disturb them, you can gently fight the ants without harming the queen.
Can I find queen ants outside the nest?
During theSwarm Flight you will find countless potential queen ants on an excursion. In this case, these are sexually mature ants that have hatched from the brood of the ant species. These animals grow wings with which they then go on their nuptial flight. The flying ants can become queens if they form a new colony and are mated. The flight usually only lasts a few hours. During this short period of time, flying ants can be a nuisance and can also venture onto terraces.
Tip
Ant queens can live very long
In contrast to the other ants in an ant colony, the queen ant can live very long. If the animals have the right conditions, they can live up to 30 years for some types of ants. Better protect these important and useful animals and gently relocate disturbing nests instead of threatening them with harsh interventions.
