Insects that live in groups are some of the most fascinating little creatures in nature. They don’t live alone—they work together like tiny superheroes!
These group-living insects, also known as social insects, build homes, collect food, protect their young, and keep their colony safe using teamwork.
Understanding these insects helps kids learn about cooperation, nature, and how animals survive.
In this post, we’ll explore bees, ants, termites, wasps, and many other insects that live in groups—and discover how their amazing teamwork makes them strong and successful.
What Are Insects That Live in Groups?
Insects that live in groups are insects that stay together instead of living alone. These insects make:
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Hives (like bees) -
Colonies (like ants & termites)
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Swarms (like locusts)
These insects live together in a group because it keeps them safer, happier, and stronger. When they work together, they can build tunnels, collect food, protect babies, and keep their homes clean.
Kids’ Example
Think of your school! Students, teachers, helpers—everyone works together.
That’s exactly how insects that live together in a group behave.
Why Do Some Insects Live Together?
Some insects team up and form large colonies because teamwork makes life easier! These insects that live in groups and work together as colonies help each other by:
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Sharing food
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Building homes faster
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Protecting their babies
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Staying warm
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Fighting predators
They do everything as a team—just like a family!
Bees: The Sweet Little Insects That Live in Hives
Bees are one of the most famous insects that live in groups, and they live in beautiful houses called hives.
Honey Bees
Honey bees make delicious honey and wax. Their hives are busy “cities” where thousands of bees buzz around!
How Bee Colonies Work
A bee colony includes:
| Bee Type | Job in the Hive |
|---|---|
| Queen Bee | Lays eggs & leads the hive |
| Worker Bees | Collect nectar, clean hive, protect babies |
| Drones | Help the queen make more bees |
Bees show kids how amazing teamwork can be!
Fun Fact
Bees communicate by dancing! It’s called the waggle dance.
Ants: Tiny Workers That Build Big Colonies
Ants are the perfect example of ants and bees are insects that live in groups. They are tiny but super strong and super smart!
Ant Life Inside the Nest
Inside an ant colony:
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Worker ants collect food
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Soldier ants protect the nest
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The queen lays eggs
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Baby ants are fed and cared for
They dig tunnels, build chambers, and create huge underground cities.
Fun Fact
Some ants are super strong! They can carry objects that weigh many times more than their own body when working together.
Termites: Insects That Live in Colonies and Eat Wood
Termites are insects that live in colonies, often inside wood or mud towers.
A termite colony has:
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King & Queen – parents of the colony
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Workers – build the home & feed others
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Soldiers – protect the colony from ants
Termites don’t like sunlight, so they build dark tunnels.
Yes, termites are also insects that live in groups because they need teamwork to survive.
Fun Fact
Termite queens can live for 20–50 years—longer than most insects!
Other Small Insects That Live in Groups
Some tiny insects also stay together for safety and food.
Aphids
Aphids gather on leaves in big clusters. They share food and protect each other.
Ladybug Larvae Groups
Baby ladybugs sometimes stay together while eating tiny pests.
Bark Beetles
Bark beetles make tunnels inside tree bark and live in small families or colonies.
These are perfect examples of small insects that live in groups or insects that live in groups as larvae.
Read More: Big and Small Insects [100 Names]: Fun Learning Guide for Kids
Large Insects That Live in Groups
Some big insects also team up!
Locust Swarms
Locusts sometimes join together and form giant swarms that look like flying clouds.
Social Wasps
Certain wasps build nests using paper-like material and live with hundreds of family members.
These two are amazing large insects that live in groups.
Name Any Four Insects That Live in Groups
Kids often get this question in school!
Here are four insects that live in groups:
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Bees
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Ants
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Termites
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Wasps
Simple and perfect for exams or assignments.
Apart From Bees, Which Other Insects Live in Groups?
Kids usually know bees—but there are many more!
Here’s a friendly list:
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Ants
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Termites
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Wasps
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Locusts
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Aphids
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Army Ants
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Bark Beetles
Great for “apart from bees what are the insects that live in groups” questions.
10 Examples of Social Insects
Here are popular insects that live in colonies, hives, or swarms:
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Bees
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Ants
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Termites
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Wasps
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Aphids
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Locusts
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Army Ants
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Driver Ants
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Bark Beetles
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Leafcutter Ants
These are the most common insects that live in groups on Earth.
Groups of Insects That Live in Large Colonies
Different insects have different group names:
| Group Name | Insects |
|---|---|
| Hive | Bees |
| Colony | Ants & Termites |
| Swarm | Locusts |
| Mound | Termites |
These are the main groups of insects that live in large colonies.
What Are Insects That Live in Colonies Called?
Insects that live in colonies are called social insects.
These insects work together in groups to:
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Build homes like hives, mounds, or tunnels
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Care for their babies
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Protect each other from predators
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Collect and share food
So, any insect that lives this way is an insect that lives in a colony.
Fun Fact!
Some social insects, like ants, can lift 20 times their own weight while working together in their colonies!
Types of Insects for Kids
Kids can learn many categories of insects:
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Flying insects
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Crawling insects
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Helpful insects
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Social insects
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Garden insects
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Tiny insects
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Water insects
This section connects with types of insects for kids.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)❓
Q1: Which insects live in a group?
A1: Bees, ants, termites, wasps, aphids, locusts, army ants, and bark beetles.
Q2: Which insect lives in a group (Class 3 level)?
A2: Bees, ants, and termites are the simplest answers.
Q3: Which are some other insects that live together in a group?
A3: Aphids, wasps, bark beetles, and locusts.
⭐ Fun Facts for Kids
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Ants don’t sleep—they take tiny naps!
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A bee can flap its wings 200 times per second.
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Termites build the tallest insect homes on Earth.
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Locust swarms can stretch over 100 km!
Conclusion: Why Group-Living Insects Are Important
Insects that live in groups remind us how powerful teamwork can be.
They help nature by:
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Pollinating flowers
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Cleaning forests
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Making honey
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Breaking down dead plants
These insects teach kids teamwork, cooperation, and caring for others.