The history of every ant colony traces back to the founding queen's first clutch of eggs. The queen patiently and attentively tends them while they develop into the subsequent immature life stages. The ant queen holds the eggs, stimulating them with touch. She must keep the eggs clean and safe from harmful bacteria and mold. She must also be strong to stay alive on nothing more than her body's own nutritional stores. This program was made with the generous assistance of the University of California Los Angeles, Department of Entomology.