Ant Development and reproduction Mating The nuptial flight
 Most ants produce a new generation each year. During the species specific breeding period, new reproductives, winged males and females leave the colony in what is called a 'nuptial flight'. Typically, the males take flight before the females. Males then use visual cues to find a common mating ground, for example, a landmark such as a pine tree to which other males in the area converge. Males secrete a mating pheromone that females follow. Females of some species mate with just one male, but in some others they may mate with anywhere from one to ten or more different males.