Ant
We’re worker ants! We ants are social insects: we don’t live alone, but in a colony.
The worker ants work while the queen lays the eggs. Each worker has a specific task, which can change throughout its life. However, some… do nothing! Scientists still don’t know exactly why!
The formicary is our nest and can have different shapes. Some ants build it underground, while others build it in trees. Usually, there are only ants of a single species in a formicary. However, there are some ants called “slave-making” ants that kidnap workers from other
species and make them work for them.
In a formicary, there are many ants that recognise each other by their "smell," allowing them to understand who belongs to their colony and who is an intruder to be chased away. Ants are fascinating, but they are also important for nature. For example, they transport the seeds of some plants, like the snowdrop. Think about this when you see one!
Focus: Leafcutter ants, ancient farmers
These american ants collect pieces of leaves and use them to grow fungi, which they then eat! The "farming" of ants is much older than human agriculture!