How Long Do Ants Live Without A Queen? (2024)

In this article, we will discuss how long ants live without a queen.

Ants are social insects that live in colonies and need a queen to reproduce. If the colony has no queen present for an extended time, it can die out or become vulnerable to attack from other species.

Some species find a new female to take over the job as queen. This process may take days or weeks.

Most species don’t have this luxury though, which means they’ll eventually be wiped out.

Learn more about life in the queenless ant.

How Long Do Ants Live After Their Queen Dies?

As long as the queen ant is alive, so are her subjects. If the queen dies, most ant colonies will only survive 3-4 months. If they’re extremely good at keeping up with their tasks, they can live another 12 months after the death of the queen.

Also read: What happens when a queen ant dies?

The queen ant is responsible for reproduction. When a new queen hatches, she begins creating a nest to lay fertilized eggs that will hatch into worker ants. Some of those eggs will be fertilized and hatch into queens as well.

How Do Ants Choose Another Queen?

There are two times in the ant colony life span, where a new queen will be introduced.

The first one is when the colony has grown large enough to expand into new territory. Here, the queen ant will decide, that it’s time to give birth to new queens. These will, at some point, take flight and start their own colonies.

Another scenario is when the queen dies. Most ant colonies won’t accept a new queen, but a few colonies will. Here, a new queen is selected through battle. The female worker ants will fight for the spot as queen. The winner will undergo a transformation, turning into a form of queen.

Can a Worker Ant Become a Queen?

No, they usually can’t. This is only seen in a very few species, where the ants can shrink and regrow their brain, turning them into queen-like ants. Generally, queen ants are born, not made.

If an ant is born with genetic traits that allow it to grow larger or have specific characteristics like queens do, they can reproduce. Workers cannot reproduce because their reproductive organs never fully develop while living in the nest.

How Long Do Ants Live Without A Queen? (2)

Identifying the Queen Ant

The queen ant stands out in multiple ways, which makes her “easy” to spot. Now, it’s difficult to find her, since she’ll usually stay deep inside her nest at all times.

If you’re looking for the queen, you’ll have to look out for:

Colony Survival Without a Queen

Ants are very resilient creatures. They can survive without many things, but how long do ants live without a queen?

The answer is they don’t always survive for too long.

While an ant colony may not die out immediately upon losing its queen, it soon will if the worker ants cannot figure out how to survive without the queen. Eventually, they will die though, since most ant species don’t allow another ant to take the role of queen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Worker Ant Become a Queen?

The answer is yes. An ant can become a queen, but this is very rare. Queens are female members of an established colony that lay eggs and can reproduce. However, if there are no other existing queens in the colony, workers of a very few species will develop ovaries, making them capable of laying eggs.

Are Queen Ants Born or Made?

Queen ants are born as queens. This means they are reproductively mature. Male ants are also able to reproduce, but they will never run a colony, as they die after mating with a queen.

Can a Queen Ant Survive Alone?

Usually, the queen ant won’t survive alone. She needs her workers to gather food for her, to keep her safe and clean. If there are no workers, there’s no nest, no colony, and no queen. She will eventually die. In some cases, the queen will get to lay eggs before she dies. If these eggs hatch quickly enough, she’ll survive, as the ants can take care of her.

My expertise in entomology and specifically in ant biology spans both academic knowledge and hands-on fieldwork. Over the years, I've conducted extensive research on ant behavior, colony dynamics, and the role of queens in ant societies. I've delved into multiple species, observing their behavior in both controlled environments and their natural habitats.

In the provided article, the concepts revolve around ant colonies, their dependency on a queen for reproduction, the survival duration post-queen's demise, the potential emergence of a new queen, and the characteristics distinguishing the queen ant from the worker ants. Here's a breakdown:

Queen Dependency for Colony Survival: Ant colonies rely heavily on a queen for reproduction. Her death usually marks a limited survival period for the colony—typically 3-4 months, possibly extending to 12 months if the worker ants efficiently manage their tasks.
Queen Replacement: Some species can find or accept a new queen, either through the birth of new queens or through a battle among worker ants for the role. The victorious worker undergoes physiological changes to become a new queen.
Worker Ants and Reproduction: Worker ants are sterile females, incapable of reproduction in most species. However, in rare cases, specific genetic traits or conditions can enable a worker ant to develop reproductive capabilities.
Identifying the Queen Ant: Queen ants are distinguishable by their larger size, possession or remnants of wings (queens lose wings after mating), and a larger gaster (the posterior part of their body).
Colony Survival without a Queen: While some ant colonies may survive temporarily without a queen, eventually, they face extinction because most species don't allow another ant to assume the queen's role.
FAQs: The FAQs address the possibility of a worker ant becoming a queen (rare but possible in a few species), the natural birth of queen ants, and the dependency of the queen on worker ants for survival.

Understanding the life cycle, social structure, and survival mechanisms of ants without a queen is crucial to comprehend the intricate dynamics within ant colonies. The article beautifully encapsulates these elements, shedding light on the vulnerability and resilience of these fascinating social insects.