Care of the larvae and pupae The slightly larger workers stay inside the nest to take care of the larvae and pupae. These workers staying inside the nest also play a role in taking care of the mother (Queen) and cleaning the eggs by licking.

The first worker is born inside the nest of Camponotus japonicus.

Workers of the Messor aciculatus ant taking care of pupae

Some larvae consume food by themselves.

The larvae of the Messor aciculatus ant eats plant seeds by dissolving it with digestive juice relaesed from the mouth while holding it in the body. The larva of the Ponerine ants reportedly looks for food by stretching the neck.

A Messor aciculatus larva eating by itself