Weird Queen Ant behavior...

[IridomyrmexJ]

So, On Wednesday I was walking to school when I saw a queen ant on the ground. There was one problem, I didn't have a test tube on me. As a solution, I pulled out a plastic bag out of my bag and put the queen in there. (I left a little hole for some air) and because I actually had a 3 day camp the same day, I trusted my sister to bring it home at the end of the day and put it in the test tube. She successfully brought it home and put it in a test tube. When I got home, I saw it and it wasn't moving BUT it was not in a ball. I checked on it an hour later and it was in a ball. Now it is usually in a ball but if I touch it it unravels. What is happening? Has anyone experienced this before? Ill update everyone on whether it survives or not. Everyone pray for the queen!!

[Fulkol]

Is nuptial flight happening in your region now? Being in a "ball" can mean being curled up for hibernation, this is taken from the AC handbook:

"During this hibernation period do not panic if the ants look as though they have died,
and have assumed a sort of crumpled-up, fetal position. Many ants when undergoing deep cold
hibernation will appear to curl up and die, when in reality they’re all very much so alive and will
return to their normal active state come Spring."

[IridomyrmexJ]

Is nuptial flight happening in your region now? Being in a "ball" can mean being curled up for hibernation, this is taken from the AC handbook:

"During this hibernation period do not panic if the ants look as though they have died,
and have assumed a sort of crumpled-up, fetal position. Many ants when undergoing deep cold
hibernation will appear to curl up and die, when in reality they’re all very much so alive and will
return to their normal active state come Spring."

In Australia it is currently at the end of summer...

[Martialis]

Is nuptial flight happening in your region now? Being in a "ball" can mean being curled up for hibernation, this is taken from the AC handbook:

"During this hibernation period do not panic if the ants look as though they have died,
and have assumed a sort of crumpled-up, fetal position. Many ants when undergoing deep cold
hibernation will appear to curl up and die, when in reality they’re all very much so alive and will
return to their normal active state come Spring."

In Australia it is currently at the end of summer...

Leave it alone for a while. She might be stressed.

[IridomyrmexJ]

Is nuptial flight happening in your region now? Being in a "ball" can mean being curled up for hibernation, this is taken from the AC handbook:

"During this hibernation period do not panic if the ants look as though they have died,
and have assumed a sort of crumpled-up, fetal position. Many ants when undergoing deep cold
hibernation will appear to curl up and die, when in reality they’re all very much so alive and will
return to their normal active state come Spring."

In Australia it is currently at the end of summer...

Leave it alone for a while. She might be stressed.

Will do. Thanks for the advice.

[IridomyrmexJ]

It is not in a ball but it hasn't moved for days

[Martialis]

Leave her alone. Do you see any eggs? How's the water in her tube?

[ScaryBuh]

How did you block the tube?
Cotton lets your ant breath.
If you use the tube cap it can prevent oxygen to go to your queen.

[IridomyrmexJ]

Dead. It somehow got injured in the journey from school to home. rip D: