The queen of the black garden ant Lasius niger,

feeds partly on its own wing muscles!

After mating in mid air, in the summer,

the queen returns to earth and bits off its wings for food.

The male has fulfilled its role and crawls away to die.

The queen finds a crevice for a new nest.

She lives on her fat reserves and on the nutrients contained in her wing muscles.

She begins to lay eggs in the following spring.

The first few batches of eggs develop into wingless female workers.

As the workers feed the queen she lays more eggs –

until in the summer winged males and females are born.

A new cycle begins all over again.