Castes

a social class structure determined by birth

Ants are incredible that they have different castes or types according to the needs of each colony.

This is called polymorphism.

The ants of each colony are all clones of one another, but depending on the species, can vary in size and shape to an incredible extent.

Usually the largest in the colony and by far the longest lived, up to 25 years for many species

The majority of ants in colonies are sterile female workers

these are quite large and can have special features such as enormous heads or large bodies

living storage containers store nectar inside their own bodies and distribute it to the colony as needed

defensive ants that are used by the colony to block entrances to the nest with specially shaped heads

the reproductive ants, the virgin queens and the short-lived males