Which description best describes the ant caste system?

• A. Queen, male reproductive, workers
• B. Queen and workers
• C. Male reproductive only
• D. Workers only

Answer: (A)

Ant colonies structure themselves through castes, each with a distinct role. The queen’s main job is to lay eggs, ensuring the colony can grow and persist. Male reproductives, or drones, exist to mate with queens from other colonies. Workers are non-reproductive females that perform the daily tasks needed to keep the nest functioning—feeding brood, gathering food, defending the colony, and maintaining the nest. This combination—queen, male reproductives, and workers—best describes how an ant colony is organized because it includes all the essential roles that drive reproduction and day-to-day work. The other options leave out one or more of these critical groups, so they don’t capture the full structure of the caste system.