Tag

Social Parasitism

All articles tagged with #social parasitism

Only-queen parasitic ant clones itself to hijack other nests
animals1 month ago

Only-queen parasitic ant clones itself to hijack other nests

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.

"Unraveling the Mystery of Tiny Ant Queens: Supergene Research Reveals Answers"
biology2 years ago

"Unraveling the Mystery of Tiny Ant Queens: Supergene Research Reveals Answers"

Researchers at UC Riverside have discovered that the presence of tiny queens in ant colonies is controlled by supergenes, which determine the number and size of queens in the colony. These supergenes, found in the ant species Formica cinerea, play a crucial role in the social dynamics of ant colonies, potentially leading to reproductive conflicts among workers. The study suggests that the combined supergenes may help the colony expand and survive, shedding light on the evolution of social parasitism in ants.