As social insects, ants live in colonies. These colonies range in size from dozens to millions of numbers. One or more fertile queens, soldiers, wingless female castes of workers, male drones, and other specialized groups are included in most colonies. As an insect, ants are very successful in their survival. There are more than 20,000 ant species and are found most everywhere except some remote islands and Antarctica.

In addition to the queens, workers, and male drones, colonies include eggs, larvae, and pupae. Laying eggs are the queen’s main function. The eggs hatch into grub-like larvae that later change into adult Ants. Unfertilized eggs hatch out males, and fertilized eggs become females. Most females are sterile worker Ants that do not compete with the queens. They build and maintain the nests, forage for food, feed the queens and developing larvae, and defend the nest. A very few fertilized eggs hatch out new breeding queens. All males are fertile drones, and their only purpose is to breed with the queens.