Ant Brood

(2019) - 25 min

animalsscienceeducationaldocumentarychildrennature

An ant brood develops through three immature life stages. The eggs become larvae, and then pupae. The queen protects her offspring from dangerous bacteria and mold by constantly cleaning them. Her attentions also provide the brood with tactile stimulus and coat them in nutritious pheromones that myrmecologists (ant scientists) call the "Queen Substance". This episode was made in collaboration with the UCLA Department of Entomology.