Mating frenzies, sperm hoards, and brood raids: the life of a fire ant queen

Title:
Mating frenzies, sperm hoards, and brood raids: the life of a fire ant queen
Speaker:
Walter R. Tschinkel
Description:

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. [Directed by Lisa Vertudaches, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Phil Brookes].

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Video Language:
English
Team:
closed TED
Project:
TED-Ed
Duration:
04:59
Format: HTML5
Primary
Original