The AntsCanada Ant Forum's

Greetings folks. Having done the obvious google search and forums searching I come to the best for an answer instead.
I had a colony of ants ( lasius niger ) with queen and 20 - 50 workers. All feeding fine with water, protein and a sugar solution available.
Then all the workers died leaving the Queen alone.
Will she start a new batch of nanitics to restart the colony like she did when first mated and nested or is it game over for this queen.
Thank you kindly.

As long as the queen is alive she can start from scratch. You should give her some sugar water and some protein (best in the form a 1-2 fruit flies) and she should be fine. And don't forget to hibernate them next year,

Brilliant thanks. She has sugar. Water and protein in the form of dead flies. Just could not find an answer to if she would start again or die.
One happy man and son here. ☺

As long as she doesn't keel over she can still lay eggs and raise new brood. Lasius are pretty resilient. If you want to help her and have one at hand you can add a pupa (NOT a larva and NEVER a worker) from another colony. Once that pupa hatches it will dramatically increase the queen's ability to raise a new batch of young.

Hmm winter here. Might not be able to get a pupae at this time of year. May just have to risk it. She is in a dark area and has food water and sugar. Crosses fingers and hopes for the best. Ta muchly folks.