# Ants at the top of the Empire State Building **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 15, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294 "2016-04-15T18:02:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294/21 "2016-04-16T06:45:09Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Carried, or carrying? Perhaps the observation deck installed a rubber tree plant. Whoops there goes another… ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294/22 "2016-04-16T10:51:22Z")
There were crickets on the 82nd floor viewing balcony when I first visited the ESB in 1974. When I had a 40th floor hotel room in Chicago the outside of the windows was home to several large spiders. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294/23 "2016-04-16T12:55:30Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I’ve seen them during the past 50 years. Maybe it’s time to come down? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294/24 "2016-04-16T14:56:27Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Maybe it’s time to come down? Who . . . me or _ **THEM!** _? ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294/25 "2016-04-16T15:09:38Z")
Thanks, Colibri. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294/26 "2016-04-16T16:07:19Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Whoops there goes another… I think an ant at the top of the empire state building is the very definition of an ant with high hopes. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294/27 "2016-04-16T20:51:12Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Are they army ants? Then everyone in the building is in danger! Probably not Carpenter Ants - are there IronWorker Ants ? ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294/28 "2016-04-17T10:19:36Z")
My Aunt once visited the Empire State Building. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294/29 "2016-04-17T12:43:03Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > My Aunt once visited the Empire State Building. Then ask her whether she arrived by air, or was a stowaway in a potted plant. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294/30 "2016-04-17T13:26:47Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > There are ants everywhere. Even Antarcitca? IIRC the only native insect is a wingless fly on the peninsula. There may be ants inside research stations though. Looks like some islands don’t have native ants either. Plus I don’t think there are underwater ants… Brian ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294/31 "2016-04-17T13:37:26Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Even Antarcitca? IIRC the only native insect is a wingless fly on the peninsula. > There may be ants inside research stations though. > > Looks like some islands don’t have native ants either. > > Plus I don’t think there are underwater ants… > > Brian [Scientists discover swimming ants](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-03-12/scientists-discover-swimming-ants/816182) > [@](#): > > North Queensland scientists have discovered a new type of ant, believed to be the only species that can live, swim and navigate under water. > > The ants nest in submerged mangroves and survive by hiding in air pockets and then swimming to the surface. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294/32 "2016-04-17T16:20:37Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Even Antarcitca? IIRC the only native insect is a wingless fly on the peninsula. > There may be ants inside research stations though. > > Looks like some islands don’t have native ants either. > > Plus I don’t think there are underwater ants… > > Brian If we’re being hyper-literal (as I should have expected someone would be ;)), there are no ants on the Moon or Sun, either, now that you bring it up. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294/33 "2016-04-18T03:11:57Z")
Decades ago, when I lived in New York, Allan Colmes was a morning DJ on WABC radio, and he did a bit where he interviewed the ESB’s exterminator. The exterminator acknowledged they had ants and many other bugs on the top floor. When Colmes pressed for an explanation, the guy just laughed and said the ants probably liked having a nice view of New Jersey. ---
**Author:** ![duncs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@duncs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duncs)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294/34 "2016-04-18T09:01:37Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > If we’re being hyper-literal (as I should have expected someone would be ;)), there are no ants on the Moon or Sun, either, now that you bring it up. How do you know? Have you ever been there to check? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294/35 "2016-04-18T12:40:15Z")
[Ballooning](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/da/41/d8/da41d859e450280d02518bbb2c27aefc.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294/36 "2016-04-18T16:47:01Z")
Maybe they took the elevator. That’s what I would do. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294/37 "2016-04-18T17:08:25Z")
> [@Donnerwetter](#): > > Maybe they took the elevator. That’s what I would do. They can’t reach the button. ---
**Author:** ![JcWoman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jcwoman/32/2889_2.png) [@JcWoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JcWoman)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294/38 "2016-04-18T17:15:06Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Yes. She will lay eggs that will hatch into workers that will be the foundation of the colony. The first workers will go out and forage for food, and care for the next cohort of larvae that will become the next group of workers. The queen will lay many thousands of eggs during her life to produce the colony’s workers. > > The workers, which are all female, are produced from eggs fertilized by the sperm that the queen obtained on her nuptial flight by mating with one or more probably several males. She will retain the sperm from that initial mating for her entire life, which may be decades. > > The colony reproduces by producing new winged males and females. Queens are produced by feeding larvae a special diet. Males are produced from unfertilized eggs. The winged males and females will take off on a nuptial flight during which mating takes place. A fertilized queen will land, shed her wings, make a nest, lay some eggs, and thus start a new colony. Wait… I don’t doubt you, but this sounds pretty crazy, like ants have a completely different biology than the rest of us. How are male ants hatched from unfertilized eggs? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294/39 "2016-04-18T17:48:47Z")
> [@JcWoman](#): > > Wait… I don’t doubt you, but this sounds pretty crazy, like ants have a completely different biology than the rest of us. How are male ants hatched from unfertilized eggs? Parthenogenesis, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294/40 "2016-04-18T17:55:02Z")
Mammals have two sex chromosomes and the sex of the offspring is determined by whether the father donates an X or Y. Ants (and wasps and bees) have two sex chromosomes as well, but the sex of the offspring is determined by whether the second chromosome is present art all. With two chromosomes the offspring is female, but with only one the missing information means the larva develops as male. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-at-the-top-of-the-empire-state-building/752294.md?page=3)