Young queens of the twig ant Tetraponera mocquerysi actively forage for food early in the life cycle of the colony. Once workers are produced, queens can stay safely in the nest. Kibale forest, Uganda

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

Ant colonies usually start small. Here a young bull ant queen (Myrmecia pyriformis) tends to a larva in her incipient nest. Yandoit, Victoria, Australia