ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Sphecomyrmex]

Hi,
I want to know if anyone could explie me what happen in some particular cases, even someone who has made experiments of the kind could tell what its observations have been...

1. what happen if a queen is is separated by one mature colony? She keeps on deposing eggs alone?
2. what happen if the new colony maked by the separated queen is rejoined with the native colony (composed by only worker and brood)?
3. In a similar case, what happen if from a mature colony, is a group of workers isolated and even some brooded, and then, after a long time, the group is rejoined with the native colony?
4. could one worker life alone if separated by a colony?

Thanks very much

[tail__]

1. She will try to, but not always will succeed. She has no more nutrients from the wing muscles, and starting new colony without any worker's help may be harder, but possible. Species with more self-supporting queens, like Myrmica, would probably do this without problems.
2,3. They will probably fight each other, because their scents will be different. There is a possibility, however, that the group without queen will join the full colony. Depends on species' agression level and luck.
4. Not too long, it will stray and forever try to make it's way to the nest, if it fails, will eventually starve or dry to death.

[Sphecomyrmex]

OK, thank you very much tail_, you have clarified a lot me the question