Ant Life Cycle Worksheets & Printables

Children can create three-dimensional representations of the ant life cycle. Use white pom poms to create eggs. Wrapping sections of an egg carton with white and pink yarn can represent the larva and pupa. Three connected sections of an egg carton painted brown, can be used to make the ant. Use pipe cleaners to add antennae and legs.

Purchase an ant farm so children can observe real-life ants and learn more about their habitat.Have children choose another animal’s life cycle to compare and contrast with the ant life cycle.

Have children research where to find ants. Then, go on an ant hunt and see if they can find them!

Children can create three-dimensional representations of the ant life cycle. Use white pom poms to create eggs. Wrapping sections of an egg carton with white and pink yarn can represent the larva and pupa. Three connected sections of an egg carton painted brown, can be used to make the ant. Use pipe cleaners to add antennae and legs.

Purchase an ant farm so children can observe real-life ants and learn more about their habitat.

Have children choose another animal’s life cycle to compare and contrast with the ant life cycle.Have children research where to find ants. Then, go on an ant hunt and see if they can find them!

Ant’s life cycle includes four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. It can take a few weeks or as long as a year for the life cycle to be completed.Ants begin as eggs. The queen ant finds a good place to lay her eggs. The eggs are very small, soft, and oval-shaped. The queen ant can lay many eggs at a time. Some eggs are eaten by ants and some will lead to adult ants being created.

During the second stage, the eggs hatch into larvae. Larvae look like worms and do not have any legs, eyes, or major organs. They can wiggle around and open their mouths to eat. During this stage, the larvae are constantly eating and growing. The queen or adult worker ants bring them food.

The larvae molt many times, which means they shed their skin. Molting allows them to grow bigger.The next stage in the ant’s life cycle is becoming a pupa. During this stage, some larvae form cocoons around themselves. The cocoons are silky and help protect the larvae. Inside the cocoons, the ants are developing into adults. Other larvae do not make cocoons and instead are uncovered.

During the last stage of the life cycle, the larvae become adults. Larvae that made cocoons around themselves come out. The adult ants are a pale yellow color when they first come out. Their color quickly begins to darken and the ants become brown, black, or red. The adult ants have six legs and three parts to their bodies: a head, thorax, and abdomen. They have two antennae on their head that they use to smell and touch.Adult ants can be queens, who spend their lives laying eggs. Adults can be worker ants, who are also female. They spend their time digging tunnels, caring for eggs, protecting the ant colony, and looking for food.

Lastly, there are adult male ants, who die shortly after mating with a queen. They only live for a few weeks.

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