 Both independent and dependent colony foundation can occur after mating . Isolation by distance ( IBD ) patterns have been recorded with M. pilosula queens , where nests that tend to be closer together were more genetically related to each other in comparison to other nests further away . Independent colony foundation is closely associated with queens which engage in nuptial flight in areas far from their home colony , showing that dependent colony foundation mostly occurs if they mate near their nest . In some cases , queens could seek adoption into alien colonies if there are no suitable areas to find a nest or independent colony foundation cannot be carried out . Other queens could try and return to their home nest after nuptial flight , but they may end up in another nest near the nest they originally came from . In multiple @-@ queen societies , the egg @-@ laying queens are generally unrelated to one another , but one study showed that it is possible for multiple queens in the same colony to be genetically related to each other . Depending on the species , the number of individuals present in a colony can range from 50 to over 2 @,@ 200 individuals . A colony with less than 100 workers is not considered a mature colony . M. dispar colonies have around 15 to 329 ants , M. nigrocincta have over 1 @,@ 000 , M. pyriformis have from 200 to over 1 @,@ 400 and M. gulosa have nearly 1 @,@ 600 . A colony can last for a number of years . Foraging behavior among smaller workers which never usually leave the nest can be a sign of a colony 's impending demise . 
