If I put some isolated social insects like worker ants, termites or bees by themselves in an environment where they could get all they needed to eat etc., would they survive separated from their colony or not?
WAG: probably. Beekeepers often have to replace the honey they take with sugar water. Of course this just relates to their nutritional needs. But it certainly shows they aren’t dependent on their fellow insects for food.
But you realize most insects only live a short while anyways ;).
HTH
bump
look up research into chronobiology or polyethism. at least for bees (i can’t speak for other social insects), isolating the youngin’s causes them to start foraging.
so i’d say yes, they will survive.
jb