Dealate

A dealate is a queen ant that has removed her own wings. After the nuptial flight, a mated queen no longer needs them, so she breaks them off at the base, often using her legs or rubbing against the ground. You can still see the small wing scars on the sides of her thorax.

Losing the wings is a big moment in her life: it means she's done flying and is ready to dig. In fully claustral species like Lasius niger, the queen will later break down her now useless wing muscles and use them as an energy and protein source while she raises her first workers.

For us ant keepers, a dealate queen walking alone on the ground after a swarm is exactly what we're looking for. Just keep in mind that dropping the wings is a strong hint, not a guarantee. Once in a while a queen sheds her wings without having mated properly, and she'll never lay fertile eggs.

In practice

• After a nuptial flight, search sidewalks, paths and the base of walls for wingless queens walking quickly on their own.
• I always suggest catching more than one dealate, because not every queen will be fertile or survive the founding stage.
• Move her into a test tube setup as soon as you can, and then leave her alone in a dark, quiet place.
• If a queen in your setup still has her wings after a few days, don't panic, but be aware she might not have mated.