Finding a mated queen in the wild yourself is one of the most rewarding (and cheapest) ways to start a colony. You just need to know when to look, where, and above all how to handle your precious find.
The nuptial flight calendar
Nuptial flights happen at specific times depending on the species. Knowing this calendar is key:
| Month | Flying species |
|---|---|
| May-June | Formica fusca, Camponotus, Lasius flavus |
| July-August | Lasius niger, Tetramorium, Myrmica rubra, Pheidole |
| September-October | Aphaenogaster, Crematogaster, Messor barbarus |
Favourable weather conditions
Ants usually wait for specific conditions to trigger their flight:
- Summer heat (above 22°C)
- High humidity (often after a thunderstorm)
- Light wind
- Late afternoon or early evening (depending on species)
Rain after several dry days is the most reliable signal. Head out late in the day 1 to 3 days after a good thunderstorm: your chances are at their highest.
Where to look in practice
Mated queens land on the ground after their nuptial flight to look for a place to found. You’ll find them:
- On open pavements and paths (Lasius, Tetramorium)
- Near parent nests
- Under stones and pieces of wood
- On sunny waste ground
- For Messor: in southern olive groves and pine woods
Recognising a mated queen
Criteria to identify an already-mated queen (and therefore able to found):
- She walks on the ground (no longer flying)
- Her wings are gone or fall off easily when you blow on them
- She looks for shelter (heads for a hole or a crevice)
- Her abdomen is swollen (reserves for founding)
If the queen still has all 4 wings intact and tries to fly away, she hasn’t yet made her nuptial flight. Don’t collect her, she has no chance of founding a colony.
Collection technique
The minimum gear:
- A clean test tube (16×150 mm ideal) with wet cotton wool at one end
- A soft brush or gentle plastic tweezers
The technique: approach gently, slide the tube near the queen, gently encourage her to enter with the brush or by tilting it slightly. Plug the tube with another piece of dry cotton. Done.
Getting home
Once back home:
- Check the wet cotton is in place and well hydrated
- Place the tube horizontally in a dark, quiet spot at room temperature (20-25°C)
- Cover with black fabric or foil for darkness
- Don’t touch it again for 4-8 weeks
How many to collect?
Collect 3 to 5 queens maximum on an outing. Most won’t survive founding (a natural mortality of 60-80%). Having several candidates increases your chances without overloading your gear.
Only take what matches your keeping project. Leave most queens to their natural fate. Never move an entire wild colony.
Test tube pack + cotton wool
The complete kit to go collecting queens: 10 test tubes + cotton wool.
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