Illustration of southern red wood ants (Formica rufa) mating. Once a year an ant colony produces sexually mature females (virgin queens) and males (drones) that leave the colony to mate. The queens and drones are winged and mate in flight, and this event is known as the nuptial flight. The male dies soon after mating. The female bites off her wings and finds a nest site to begin a new colony. | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / Harper, Lizzie |
Bildgröße: | 2867 px × 3085 px |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: | - |