Ant Farm Glossary

Worker Ant – the lowest of the ant caste system. All ant workers are female, and differ from the queen in that they have no wings, and cannot reproduce.

Male Ant – another caste in the ant caste system. Has well-developed compound eyes and ocelli, an antenna with several segments, and a degenerated mandible.

Head – in ants, is composed of cranium, clypeus, antenna, the eye (compound), ocellus, and mouth parts. They help identify ants according to genera and species.

Queen Ant – refers to the leader of the colony, which is always female. They are the lone ants that can reproduce in the entire colony. The Queen is the highest of three castes in the ant caste system. She differs in appearance from workers in that she has wings on her thorax and an ocelli on her head.