Mating frenzies, sperm hoards, and brood raids: The life of a fire ant queen - Walter R. Tschinkel
5,219,404 Views
4,109 Questions Answered
TEDEd Animation
Let’s Begin…
In the spring, just after a heavy rainfall, male and female fire ants swarm the skies for a day of romance, known as the nuptial flight. Thousands of reproduction-capable ants take part in a mating frenzy, and for one successfully mated female, her work is only beginning. Walter R. Tschinkel details how the new queen builds a colony and protects it from neighboring ant armies.
Colony founding females break off their wings after mating. Why do they have wings in the first place, and why do they shed them after mating?
Sign in to answer questionAbout TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Educator Walter Tschinkel
- Director Lisa Vertudaches
- Narrator Addison Anderson
- Storyboard Artist Lisa Vertudaches
- Animator Lisa Vertudaches
- Compositor Lisa Vertudaches
- Art Director Lisa Vertudaches
- Sound Designer Phil Brookes
- Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
- Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
- Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
- Associate Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
- Script Editor Alex Gendler
- Fact-Checker Eden Girma
