Let's find out how ants work together. Ants live in big groups called colonies. They make nests underground, in mounds, or in trees.

An ant has six legs. It also has two antennae. An ant uses them to smell and to touch things.

Ants do not see very well. They find their way mostly by smell and touch.

Ants have strong jaws called mandibles. They use them to carry things and to cut. Ants are very strong for their size.

Almost all the ants you see are workers. They cannot lay eggs. Workers find food and care for the young. They build and defend the nest.

The queen lays the eggs in a colony. An egg becomes a baby ant called a larva. Then it grows up.

A larva has no legs. It looks like a soft white worm.

Workers carry food back to the nest. An ant that finds food leaves a scent trail. Other ants follow it to the food.

Leafcutter ants carry leaf pieces to their nest. They use them to grow a fungus garden.

Some ants can sting, and all ants can bite. Stay safe from fire ants. Stay away from their mounds. Stay away from floating rafts of ants. Tell a grown-up if one stings you.

Words to know

• colony: big ant group
• antennae: feelers
• mandibles: strong jaws
• larva: baby ant
• queen: egg-laying ant