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 - Alex Wild Photography - Insect Photography

Mating & Colony Founding

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Prenolepis imparis is the first ant to hold mating flights every year in temperate North America. Alates wait out the winter and emerge on the first warm spring days. This photo was taken in early March.

Urbana, Illinois, USA

Life is perilous for young queens. This fire ant queen (Solenopsis invicta) is being pursued by native Forelius ants, as she would make an excellent source of protein to feed the Forelius larvae. She frantically climbs a grass blade to escape, but to no avail.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA

A fire ant queen Solenopsis invicta looks for a suitable place to start a new colony after her mating flight.

Archbold Biological Station, 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 Stigmacros queen pauses to groom herself while looking for a spot to found a new colony.

Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia

Lasius (Acanthomyops) interjectus citronella ants. Prior to a mating flight, males, queens, and workers gather at the surface. Citronella ants are normally subterranean, and the late summer flights are a rare chance to see them above ground.

Urbana, Illinois, USA

A young Lasius (Acanthomyops) interjectus queen climbs vegetation to help launch herself on a mating flight. This species is a social parasite, and following her flight this queen will infiltrate the nest of another Lasius species and attempt to usurp the resident queen.

Urbana, Illinois, 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

Canon EOS 7D |

More details: exif |

Original size: 4234x2870 |

Current: 800x543 |

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Keywords: claustral queen ants fire ants life cycle solenopsis invicta gyne invicta45

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