1|17|26 - Junior Entomologist: Learning About Ant Colonies

Hello, tiny-creature explorer! Have you ever watched a line of ants marching across the sidewalk and wondered where they’re going? Ants may be small, but together they run some of the busiest cities on Earth! Today, we’re becoming Junior Entomologists—scientists who study insects—to discover the amazing world of ant colonies. Grab your magnifying glass and let’s follow the trail! 

What Is an Ant Colony?

An ant colony is a big family of ants that live and work together. One colony can have hundreds, thousands, or even millions of ants! Each ant has a job, and teamwork keeps the colony running smoothly—like a tiny city underground.

Meet the Ant Jobs

Every ant has an important role:

• Queen Ant
  The queen lays eggs so the colony can grow. She’s the heart of the colony.
  

• Worker Ants
  These ants do most of the work—finding food, building tunnels, and caring for babies.
  

• Soldier Ants
  They help protect the colony and guard entrances.
  

• Ant Babies (Larvae & Pupae)
  These are the growing ants, cared for by workers until they’re ready to help.

Ant Homes: Underground Cities

Ants build amazing homes with tunnels and rooms called chambers. Inside, there are:

🔍 Nurseries for babies

🔍 Food storage rooms

🔍 Rest areas for workers
Some ants even build hills, nests in wood, or homes in trees!

What Do Ants Eat?

Ants aren’t picky—they love:

🐜 Crumbs and sweets

🐜 Seeds and plants

🐜 Other insects

🐜 A sugary drink called honeydew (made by aphids—ant “farm animals”!)

Ants share food by touching mouths in a process called trophallaxis—a fancy word for food sharing!

How Ants Communicate

Ants don’t talk—they smell! They leave invisible scent trails called pheromones to guide other ants to food or warn of danger. That’s why you see ants walking in neat lines.

Junior Entomologist Activities

1. Ant Trail Observation

Find an ant trail and follow it (with your eyes). Where does it start? Where does it end? Draw an underground ant colony with tunnels, rooms, and labeled jobs. 

2. Food Test (With Care!)

Place tiny bits of different foods (crumb, apple, seed) near ants and see which they choose. Don’t disturb them—just observe!

3. Ant Magnifier Station

Set up a small outdoor observation area with:

• A magnifying glass

• A notebook

• A ruler

Measure ants, count legs, and sketch body parts (head, thorax, abdomen).

4. March Like an Ant

Practice teamwork! Walk in a line and pretend to carry “food” together.

5. Temperature Test (Observe Only)

Watch ant activity at different times of day. Are they more active when it’s warm or cool? Record your observations over a few days. Sketch ants you see and write notes about what they’re doing—working, carrying, or resting.

6. Build a Model Ant Farm (No Live Ants!)

Use clear containers, sand, soil, and cardboard tunnels to design an ant colony model. Label rooms like nursery, food storage, and queen’s chamber.

7. Ant Problem-Solving Challenge

Create a mini maze with cardboard and see how ants find food. Change the maze and observe how quickly they adjust their path.

8. Ant Anatomy Art

Create a labeled ant diagram using craft supplies:

• Pipe cleaners for legs

• Pom-poms for body sections

• Paper labels

Amazing Ant Facts

💡 Ants can lift 10–50 times their body weight!

💡 There are over 12,000 kinds of ants worldwide.

💡 Some ants farm fungus for food.

💡 Ants have been around for over 100 million years—wow!

💡 Ant colonies can survive floods by forming rafts with their bodies!

Kid-Friendly Books About Ants

• Ants by Anne Schreiber (National Geographic Kids)
  Great photos and simple explanations.
  

• Are You an Ant? by Judy Allen
  Fun questions and facts that make kids think like an ant.
  

• The Life and Times of the Ant by Charles Micucci
  Detailed illustrations and explanations for curious readers.
  

• Hey, Little Ant by Phillip and Hannah Hoose
  A thoughtful story that encourages empathy and observation.

Online & Museum Resources for Kids

• National Geographic Kids – Ants
  Short articles, photos, and videos made just for kids.
  

• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (Insects Section)
  Kid-friendly insect pages and virtual exhibits.
  

• AntWeb (University of California)
  Photos of real ant species from around the world (great with adult help).
  

• BugGuide.net
  Helpful for identifying ants found locally.

Ants show us what even the smallest creatures can do when they work together. Next time you see an ant, remember—you’re looking at a tiny engineer, farmer, and explorer all in one! Ready for your next insect adventure?