What happens to the male Carpenter Ant after mating?

After mating, the male Carpenter Ant dies. This phenomenon is quite common in many species of ants, where the male’s primary role is to mate and ensure the continuation of the species. Once mating occurs, males typically have fulfilled their purpose, as they do not contribute to the colony's structure or maintenance like workers do. This characteristic emphasizes the specialization and life cycle of social insects.

On the other hand, leaving the colony or becoming a worker would imply a survival strategy post-mating, which is not the case for male Carpenter Ants. Their role culminates in reproductive activity, and they don’t integrate into the colony or continue to mate after fulfilling their reproductive duty.