of it. Unlike most Myrmecia species, trophallaxis takes place among adults or between adults and larvae. All stages of the frog Metacrinia nichollsi are known to dwell inside M. regularis colonies, where they use several galleries constructed by the ants. The parasitic ant M. inquilina may attempt to enter M. regularis nests to establish colonies, but M. inquilina queens may be seized and killed as soon as the two species come into contact. Observations show that nuptial flight does not occur before February. This is based on larvae spinning into cocoons by November, and by January, these cocoons could not produce adult workers or reproductive males and females. Queens are most likely fertilised by males sometime between February and April; however, scientists have seen alates engage in nuptial flight during March. Before emerging from their parent nest, queens will shed their wings inside the nest and mate with low-flying males nearby. After nuptial flight, a queen will isolate herself and form a small chamber underground, where she remains for seven to eight months. However, it is improbable that a queen can survive on her own storage of fat and wing-musculature for that long. During this time, the queen may emerge from her nest occasionally, but she will only lay eggs from October to November when there is a rich supply of food. While this may be the case, some queens will lay eggs after a month of isolation during winter. M. regularis is a semi-clasutral ant, meaning that a queen will go out and forage in order to feed her young. Queens will emerge from their nests from time to time, during which they will capture insects for their young or feed on sweet substances. If food sources are deprived, a queen will only rely on her fat to feed the larvae until she perishes or finds food, but the larvae will not be cannibalised, and remain alive until a week after the queen's death. An individual ant may take eight months to develop from an egg to an adult. References External links Myrmeciinae Hymenoptera of Australia Insects described in 1925 Insects of Australia Endemic fauna of Australia