Queen ant

Queen offspring ants among most species develop from larvae specially fed in order to become sexually mature.

[2] Ants go through four stages of development: egg, larva, pupa (sometimes cocoon, called metamorphosis depending on the species) and adult.

When resources are low, all larvae will develop into female worker ants;[4] however, if the parent of a sexually reproducing colony has a plentiful supply of food, some of the larvae will receive better nourishment than others, and develop into winged, sexually mature female ants destined to leave the colony.

The female "queen" ants will fly a long distance, during which they will mate with at least one winged male from another nest.

Once mated, the "queen" will attempt to find a suitable area to start a colony and, once found, will detach her wings.

[7] Once a colony is established, the worker ants meet the queen's needs such as giving her food and disposing of her waste.