I waited a week after removing the queen's dead body, so that any colony scent would be greatly diminished.
Then I dumped them into the outworld, near the nest entrance. The larvae came out easily enough, but the 2 nanitics had a larvae each in their mouths and I had to use a small paint brush to coax them out.
At first they were confused for a while, but eventually they entered the nest, one with a larvae in it's mouth.
click to enlarge
![](https://i.imgur.com/qBmXVOd.jpg)
The first newcomer nanitic encountered the queen upon entering and started feeding her, while 2 of her workers looked on angrily, but the queen was happy
![:)](https://www.formiculture.com/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
![](https://i.imgur.com/jwiJL8M.jpg)
Then the one with the larvae entered
![](https://i.imgur.com/CiupkP8.jpg)
she placed the larvae on the brood pile
![](https://i.imgur.com/L08ZweJ.jpg)
then fed the queen as well, it seems this is the way to please someone
![:)](https://www.formiculture.com/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
![](https://i.imgur.com/W4lHS2p.jpg)
Later on there was some mild biffo with one of the larger workers (regular vs nanitic I think) and one of the newcomer nanitics. Some leg grabbing etc, and that Camponotus angry body jerk
![](https://i.imgur.com/n2Z2bfI.jpg)
Queen came over to break it up, and the newcomer nanitic fed one of the workers. It's almost like this is the way to beg for mercy or something
![:P](https://www.formiculture.com/public/style_emoticons/default/blum1.gif)
![](https://i.imgur.com/owz6TlT.jpg)
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Queen is now happy, she has 7 workers and 11 larvae
![:)](https://www.formiculture.com/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
![](https://i.imgur.com/SAjRtbR.jpg)