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Photo#92122
Atta Texana alate - Atta texana - female
Copyright © 2007 Penny Crispin

Atta Texana alate - Atta texana - Female
Lake Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas, USA
May 31, 2006
Contributed by Penny Crispin on 7 January, 2007 - 9:47pm

Queen, but not an alate...
Alate refers to the winged form. After the queen mates, her wings drop off and she digs a chamber to lay her eggs in. The workers that hatch from these eggs do all future digging and foraging. Photo showing all castes, note that the female alate has a larger head than does the male alate.
… Mike Quinn, 12 May, 2007 - 11:23am

 
Ah
So then I should only call them alates while their wings are still attached?
… Penny Crispin, 12 May, 2007 - 11:10pm

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