6 winged ants sharing one room...And a question!

[Piranha-Bite]

Well, hi again. I have ANOTHER question. Recently there is a very large colony outside in my garden and some winged males and females have been wandering around. (Not Flying!)
I caught 3 males and 3 young winged queens in a flat plastic container used to hold chocoolates with damp tissues and little dabs of honey. Will they mate? Or will they only mate during the Nuptial Flight?

When I first had them all in the little temporary jar, a male tried mating, but none of the queens had shed their wings or showed any egg-laying behaviour... I need help!
Here's a picture of the most energetic and largest of the queens.

Thanks in advance!
Kevin

[Jenny]

They will try if given enough space maybe like a 4ft tank, but rarely successful but generally it is only during a flight. If the queens have not unhooked their wings yet, then it could be they are not mated and you are wasting your time with them

[Piranha-Bite]

So should I free them??

[Jenny]

I think it would be kinder for them they might just stand a chance as it is the flying season at the moment.

Look out for mated queens, nigers are everywhere here at the moment, as we have just had a few flights.

You might get lucky, keep your eyes peeled when you go out and keep a collecting pot always in your pocket at this time of year

[Piranha-Bite]

Ok Thanks!

[Jenny]

Your welcome