Ant Colony Life Cycle:
Founding Phase
In this protected place (the nest, that does not necessarily have to be constructed, but can be a natural chamber under a rock, for instance) the queen starts to lay eggs, from which after a certain period emerge the larvae. The queen may search for food outside the nest or regurgitate her liquefied wing musculature (she will never fly again). In this initial period the queen is responsible for all colony tasks, not only feeding the larvae and herself, but also for the maintenance of the nest and for colony defense. The larval phase is when the ants grow, so they have to be constantly fed.
some species produce dwarf queens that instead of founding their own colonies search for an established colony of her species or of a closely related one and there lay her eggs, which resulting larvae will receive care from the host workers. In general these larvae develop into sexuals only (males and reproductive females), that is, virgin queens and males, but in some species workers are also produced. In extreme cases, the queen breaking into an established colony, kills the resident queen and takes its place.
More details may be found in these references.
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