Most ants swarm during spring and late summer. Periodically the air can be full of dispersing larger queens and smaller king ants. Ants have strong mandibles and can bite. Some ants also can sting. Many ants are considered beneficial because they are scavengers and predators on certain harmful insects.
Most ant species have only one queen per nest.
Queens may live from 1 to 15 years and produce many thousands of eggs. The larvae molt between each stage. Females and males mate and the males die soon after. She feeds and cares for the first generation of progeny until they are mature adults. After that they, and succeeding generations, care for the queen.