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 Pheidole foundress queen with her first eggs.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
A Lasius neoniger queen pauses for a rest while she searches for a suitable nesting site after her mating flight.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A Lasius neoniger queen pauses for a rest while she searches for a suitable nesting site after her mating flight.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A young Stigmacros queen pauses to groom herself while looking for a spot to found a new colony.

Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia
A Pheidole foundress queen with her first eggs.

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

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

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013