A young Aphaenogaster picea foundress queen with her first batch of eggs.

South Bristol, New York, USA
A young Lasius foundress queen raises her first crop of workers sealed in an underground chamber. She feeds the developing larvae with reserves from her own body.

South Bristol, New York, USA
A young Aphaenogaster picea foundress queen with her first batch of eggs.

South Bristol, New York, USA
A young Lasius foundress queen raises her first crop of workers sealed in an underground chamber. She feeds the developing larvae with reserves from her own body.

South Bristol, New York, USA
Inside a laboratory nest a young fire ant queen (Solenopsis invicta) tends to her first eggs.

Laboratory colony at the University of Central Florida, USA
Inside a laboratory nest a young fire ant queen (Solenopsis invicta) tends to her first eggs.

Laboratory colony at the University of Central Florida, USA
A young Brachymyrmex queen tends to her first eggs.

Maquipucuna reserve, Napo, Ecuador
A young Brachymyrmex queen tends to her first eggs.

Maquipucuna reserve, Napo, Ecuador
A Pheidole foundress queen with her first eggs.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
A young Aphaenogaster picea foundress queen with her first batch of eggs.

South Bristol, New York, USA
A young Aphaenogaster picea foundress queen with her first batch of eggs.

South Bristol, New York, USA
A young Aphaenogaster picea foundress queen with her first batch of eggs.

South Bristol, New York, USA
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013