Ants are one of the most abundant insects on Earth with several species found in North America alone. However, their life cycle may be confusing for some people. Ant colonies generally consist of a queen and hundreds of workers. As a community, they help break down organic materials in the garden, recycling nutrients back into the ground. They can become a nuisance if they enter the home. Take a look at an ant’s general life cycle to understand how pest control professionals pinpoint their targets. An ant exterminator in New Jersey that is skilled in removing and securing the access points into your home are keys to success in effective removal of these pests.
Mating And Egg Laying
Because ants are cold-blooded insects, they usually wait until late spring or early summer to mate. Winged ants take flight and mate with females. The females return to the colony to lay their eggs. Although there is usually one queen, she cannot produce enough eggs individually to keep colonies thriving. Many females that are smaller than the queen, but bigger than the workers, keep a constant supply of eggs flowing. Worker ants, the largest population, don’t have long lifespans, making it critical to reproduce consistently.