---
title: "Social insects: ants and bees"
description: "Social insects: how ants and bees live and work together in colonies. Queens, workers, and drones. Division of labour — some gather food, some build, some guard. Ant tunnels and bee hives as organised"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/social-insects-ants-and-bees-mt_guaaD6Dn2M
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/social-insects-ants-and-bees-mt_guaaD6Dn2M.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Social insects: ants and bees

Social insects: how ants and bees live and work together in colonies. Queens, workers, and drones. Division of labour — some gather food, some build, some guard. Ant tunnels and bee hives as organised homes. Parallels to human teamwork.

Subject: Science · Area: Insects & Minibeasts · Ages 7 to 9
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/social-insects-ants-and-bees-mt_guaaD6Dn2M

## Ready when they can

- Describe at least two different roles within an ant colony or bee hive such as queen, worker, or guard
- Explain that social insects live together in large groups and divide up the jobs needed to survive
- Compare an ant colony or bee hive to a human team, describing how different members do different tasks

## Lesson: Busy teams: ants and bees

Some insects do not live alone. Ants and bees live together in a huge family group called a colony, or in a bee's case, a hive. Every insect inside has its own job to do.

*(drawing: One queen lays the eggs. Many workers gather food and build tunnels. A few guards protect the nest.)*

**Example.** Deep underground, a worker ant finds a crumb of bread and carries it home. Other worker ants dig new tunnels. Guard ants stand at the entrance, ready to stop a spider that comes too close. Inside, the queen lays eggs all day. Every ant has a different job, but together they keep the whole colony alive.

**Tip.** Think of a hive like a football team. The goalkeeper does not also try to be the striker. Everyone sticks to their own job, and the team works because each part does its part.

**Recap.** Ants and bees live in big groups where the queen lays eggs, workers do the work, and guards keep watch, just like a team.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [The insect body plan](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/the-insect-body-plan-mt_oNWXXAn3cn)

## Opens up

- [Insect communication and behaviour](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/insect-communication-and-behaviour-mt_a9VnPBhoYs)
- [Animal Groups & Survival](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/animal-groups-and-survival-mt_i4bDqjyglj)
- [Bees and pollination](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/bees-and-pollination-mt_SZJ1mN7Vfk)