Pick the species: you instantly know whether your queen needs to eat while founding, what to give her and how often, or whether you should not open the tube at all.
| Founding | Feed her? | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Claustral | No | Aphaenogaster occidentalis, Aphaenogaster sp. — USA (rudis, fulva…), Camponotus barbaricus |
| Semi-claustral | Yes | Acanthomyrmex thailandensis, Cataglyphis sp., Manica rubida |
| Semi-claustral (seeds) | Yes | Pogonomyrmex californicus, Pogonomyrmex magnacanthus, Veromessor andrei |
| Fungus-growing | Yes (substrate) | Cyphomyrmex rimosus, Cyphomyrmex wheeleri |
| Temporary social parasite | Pointless alone | Formica microgyna, Formica rufa (gr.) |
| Budding | Pointless alone | Aphaenogaster senilis, Linepithema humile (fourmi d'Argentine / Argentine ant) |
Answers from the ant calculator’s species data. Founding mode can vary between populations: if in doubt, watch the queen.
Myrmica rubra, lone queen: semi-claustral, so yes, one small prey item and a drop of sugar water a week. Lasius niger, lone queen: claustral, give her nothing.
Sources: CalcBiome ant calculator species data, based on AntWiki, keeping guides (Formiculture, AntsCanada) and breeder care sheets.
No: founding is claustral. Give her nothing and do not open the tube before the first workers.
No: Camponotus queens are claustral. Founding is slow, so be patient and do not disturb her.
Semi-claustral species: Myrmica, Manica, some Pogonomyrmex and Veromessor, and a few tropical ones such as Acanthomyrmex.
Often 6 to 10 weeks for temperate species at 22–26 °C, longer when it is cool.
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