In spring and fall, the winged males and females emerge from their parent colonies to form new ones. This activity is called swarming. These winged reproductives are dark brown to brownish black and have two pair of nearly equal size semitransparent wings extending well beyond the body. The swarmers are weak flyers and, unless aided by wind, fly only short distances. Many of them are devoured by birds, spiders, ants, and other predators.
Survivors return to the ground and shed their wings.
They dig soil near wood, enter the chamber and seal the opening. After mating, the queen begins laying eggs. The royal queen is known to survive up to 25 years. Eggs are yellowish white and hatch after an incubation period of 50 to 60 days. Full grown workers are soft-bodied, wingless, blind, and creamy white.