I killed my queen ants.

[Antofellation]

Yep, just... they dead. Curled into balls in my test tube set ups.

What did I do wrong? I was using a space heater near by for warmth.

[AntOblivion]

What was the condition the room they were was, like warm or cold?

[Antofellation]

It was pretty warm. I turned off the space heater and placed the ants in a different position in the towel I wrapped them in, hoping that they would get more air circulation I guess.

It appears to be working too, yesterday's catches were all still alive when I went to put away what I caught today, but they were kind of curling up... Still moving though.

Do they need food before they produce nanitics? I've read you can put a little drop of honey in there, but didn't think it was necessary.

[Antofellation]

I should add I'm pretty sure that these are tetramorium queens.

[CreeperUniverse]

It was pretty warm. I turned off the space heater and placed the ants in a different position in the towel I wrapped them in, hoping that they would get more air circulation I guess.

It appears to be working too, yesterday's catches were all still alive when I went to put away what I caught today, but they were kind of curling up... Still moving though.

Do they need food before they produce nanitics? I've read you can put a little drop of honey in there, but didn't think it was necessary.

Pretty sure you're killing them from heat. Don't heat them. It's not worth the risk especially with just this single queen and no other workers to show fatality.

[Serafine]

Make sure they are actually Tetramorium and not Myrmica. Myrmica queens are semi-claustral.