Hello, In July this year I found Formica fusca queen, she had both her left wings - she was never able to shed them. After I placed her in tube she got 16 or 18 eggs that had really fast development and in just about month they were up to hatch, but, two days before their hatch queen just dies, few hours before she died I was taking photos of her and brood in tube and she was healthy.
Few days ago, I found Formica pratensis queen, also, with two left wings, but also, with non functional back leg on left side. I added some workers of F. nigricans (we believe) and they accepted her very well, even removed her wings...but she dies too, same as fusca.
What would be the reasons? Infections? Phorid flies? Parasites?