1999.09.22 Do queen ants ever leave their nests?

She never leaves her nest unless there is an emergency like a disaster or the colony wants to move to a better or larger place. Most of the time, it is to find a more favorable home (current one too hot, too cool, too wet, too small, mold, etc.). --Ant and Mr. Ant

However, some multiple queen colonies (e.g., Formica polyctena) build daughter nests as a part of the colony with brood and queens. Queens leave the nest together with some workers and some broods to find a place to build new colonies. --Jinei