P. subnuda virgin queens find refuge in empty foot pots within the nest. When the virgin queens become “attractive,” they develop tergal and mandibular glands and maintain contact with workers. Yet once their glandular products run out, they will then take refuge in pots and use their mandible to seal the pot. How long they stay in the pot can vary from hours to minutes. Before leaving, they will stick their antennas out of the pot to examine their external environment. Once their glandular product has been replenished, they will circulate around the colony again. This process will continue to happen until she is mature. Throughout her maturation, she will over go many different changes in glandular secretions. At the peak of her “attractiveness” she is secreting pheromones and will try to supersede the queen.
