 Myrmecia is one of the very few genera where the workers lay trophic eggs , or infertile eggs laid as food for viable offspring . Workers laying trophic eggs have only been reported in two species ; these species are M. forceps and M. gulosa . Depending on the species , colonies specialise in trophallaxis ; queens and larvae eat eggs that are laid by worker individuals , but the workers do not feed on eggs . Neither adults nor larvae consume food during winter , but cannibalism among larvae is known to occur throughout the year . The larvae only cannibalise each other ; this is most likely to happen when no dead insects are available . 
