Why are there winged (or flying) ants from this one ant colony


1999.09.22 Why are there winged/flying ants from this one ant colony?

 

These are the males (they are smaller than the princesses) and princess ants (unmated). The males' goal is to mate with the princesses during the nuptial flights. When the time comes, they both fly away from the mother colony and find others to mate with. Then, the male ants die while the new queen ants start new colonies. --Ant