Fig. 1. Experimental timetable. Each colony had access to the sucrose solution for 5 h each day. On the fifth day (Friday) from 17:00 h to the following day (Saturday) 09:00 h, ants had access to protein in the form of 250–300 Drosophila and more varied carbohydrates as 15% honey solution. The ants were then deprived until the following Monday at 10:00 h.