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Life Cycle: The life cycle of the ant consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Fertilized eggs produce female ants (queens, workers, or soldiers); unfertilized eggs produce male ants. Egg: Ant eggs are oval shaped and tiny (they are on the order of 1 mm long, but the queen's egg is many times larger). Larva: The worm-like larvae have no eyes and no legs. The larvae molt (shed their skin) many times as they increase in size. Pupa: After reaching a certain size, the larva spins a silk-like cocoon around itself (against a solid object, like the wall of the chamber) and pupates. During this time the body metamorphoses (changes) into its adult form. Adult: The pupa emerges as an adult. The entire life cycle usually lasts from 6 to 10 weeks. |