What is the role of worker ants?

• A. Foraging, caring for the queen's offspring, and maintaining the nest.
• B. Only defending the nest.
• C. Reproducing and laying eggs.
• D. Building nests outside the colony.

Answer: (A)

Worker ants are non-reproductive female members whose role is to keep the colony functioning. They forage for food, care for the queen's offspring, and maintain and repair the nest. These tasks form the everyday backbone of colony life: gathering nutrients, tending to larvae and pupae, and keeping tunnels clean and in good condition. Reproduction is handled by the queens, not by workers, so laying eggs isn’t part of the workers’ typical duties. While nest defense is important and some workers may help defend the colony, the combination of foraging, brood care, and nest maintenance best captures what worker ants do.