A queen ant is the primary reproductive female in an ant colony. She is responsible for laying eggs and ensuring the survival of the colony.

Queen ants can be caught during their mating flights, during spring and summer. Use a test tube setup with a water-soaked cotton ball and a small entrance for easy capture.

It can take several weeks to a few months for the first workers to emerge, depending on the ant species and environmental conditions.

The queen lays eggs, which hatch into larvae. The larvae pupate and develop into adult workers. The colony grows, and the workers take over various tasks.

Brood is just an antkeeping word for ant eggs, larvae, or cocoons.