Only-queen parasitic ant clones itself to hijack other nests

1 min read
Source: Live Science
Only-queen parasitic ant clones itself to hijack other nests
Photo: Live Science
TL;DR

Scientists report that Temnothorax kinomurai, a rare Japanese ant, has no workers or males and reproduces by parthenogenesis to produce only queens. These parasitic queens invade nests of the related species Temnothorax makora, enlist host workers to raise their offspring, and in lab trials seven of 43 unmated offspring succeeded in coup; all offspring were queens, showing a unique combination of asexual reproduction and social parasitism in ants.

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