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120 results for “queen ant”
Data from: Facultative use of thelytokous parthenogenesis for queen production in the polyandrous ant Cataglyphis cursor
The evolutionary paradox of sex remains one of the major debates in evolutionary biology. The study of species capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction can elucidate factors important in the evolution of sex. One such species is the ant Cataglyphis cursor, where the queen maximises the transmission of her genes by producing new queens (gynes) asexually while simultaneously maintaining a genetically diverse workforce via the sexual production of workers. We show that the queen can also produce gynes sexually, and may do so to offset the costs of asexual reproduction. We genotyped 235 gynes from 18 colonies, and found that half were sexually produced. A few colonies contained both sexually and asexually produced gynes. While workers in this species can also use thelytoky, we found no evidence of worker production of gynes based on genotypes of 471 workers from the six colonies producing sexual gynes. Gynes are thus mainly, and potentially exclusively, produced by the queen. Simulations of gynes inbreeding level following one to ten generations of automictic thelytoky suggest that the queen switches between or combines thelytoky and sex, which may reduce the costs of inbreeding. This is supported by the relatively small size of inbred gynes in one colony, though we found no relationship between the level of inbreeding and immune parameters. Such facultative use of sex and thelytoky by individual queens contrasts with other known forms of parthenogenesis in ants, which are typically characterised by distinct lineages specialising in one strategy or the other.
Data from: Costs and constraints conspire to produce honest signalling: insights from an ant queen pheromone
Signal costs and evolutionary constraints have both been proposed as ultimate explanations for the ubiquity of honest signalling, but the interface between these two factors is unclear. Here, I propose a pluralistic interpretation, and use game theory to demonstrate that evolutionary constraints determine whether signals evolve to be costly or cheap. Specifically, when the costs or benefits of signalling are strongly influenced by the sender's quality, low-cost signals evolve. The model reaffirms that cheap and costly signals can both be honest, and predicts that expensive signals should have more positive allometric slopes than cheap ones. The new framework is applied to an experimental study of an ant queen pheromone that honestly signals fecundity. Juvenile hormone was found to have opposing, dose-dependent effects on pheromone production and fecundity and was fatal at high doses, indicating that endocrine-mediated trade-offs preclude dishonesty. Several lines of evidence suggest that the realised cost of pheromone production may be non-trivial, and the antagonistic effects of juvenile hormone indicate the presence of significant evolutionary constraints. I conclude that the honesty of queen pheromones and other signals is likely enforced by both the cost of dishonesty and a suite of evolutionary constraints.
Data from: Variation in patriline reproductive success during queen production in orphaned colonies of the thelytokous ant Cataglyphis cursor
In genetically diverse insect societies (polygynous or polyandrous queens), the production of new queens can set the ground for competition among lineages. This competition can be very intense when workers can reproduce using thelytoky as worker patrilines that manage to produce new queens gain a huge benefit. Selection at the individual level might then lead to the evolution of cheating genotypes, i.e. genotypes that reproduce more than their fair share. We studied the variation in reproductive success among worker patrilines in the thelytokous and highly polyandrous ant Cataglyphis cursor. Workers produce new queens by thelytoky in orphaned colonies. The reproductive success of each patriline was assessed in 13 orphaned colonies using genetic analysis of 433 workers and 326 worker-produced queens. Our results show that patrilines contributed unequally to queen production in half of the colonies and the success of patrilines was function of their frequencies in workers. However, over all colonies we observed a significant difference in the distribution of patrilines between workers and worker-produced queens, and this difference was significant in three out of 13 colonies. In addition, six colonies contained a low percentage of foreign workers (drifters) and in one colony they produced a disproportionably high number of queens. Hence, we found some evidence for the occurrence of rare cheating genotypes. Nevertheless, cheating appears to be less pronounced than in the Cape Honey bee, a species with a similar reproductive system. We argue that worker reproduction by parthenogenesis might not be common in natural populations of C. cursor.
Data from: Bidirectional shifts in colony queen number in a socially polymorphic ant population
The breeding system of social organisms affects many important aspects of social life. Some species vary greatly in the number of breeders per group, but the mechanisms and selective pressures contributing to the maintenance of this polymorphism in social structure remain poorly understood. Here, we take advantage of a genetic dataset that spans 15 years to investigate the dynamics of colony queen number within a socially polymorphic ant species. Our study population of Formica selysi has single- and multiple-queen colonies. We found that the social structure of this species is somewhat flexible: on average, each year 3.2% of the single-queen colonies became polygynous, and conversely 1.4% of the multiple-queen colonies became monogynous. The annualized queen replacement rates were 10.3 and 11.9% for single- and multiple-queen colonies, respectively. New queens were often but not always related to previous colony members. At the population level, the social polymorphism appeared stable. There was no genetic differentiation between single- and multiple-queen colonies at eight microsatellite loci, suggesting ongoing gene flow between social forms. Overall, the regular and bidirectional changes in queen number indicate that social structure is a labile trait in F. selysi, with neither form being favoured within a time-frame of 15 years.
Data from: The evolution of queen pheromones in the ant genus Lasius
Queen pheromones are among the most important chemical messages regulating insect societies yet they remain largely undiscovered, hindering research into interesting proximate and ultimate questions. Identifying queen pheromones in multiple species would give new insight into the selective pressures and evolutionary constraints acting on these ubiquitous signals. Here, we present experimental and phylogenetic evidence that 3-methylalkanes, hydrocarbons present on the queen's cuticle, are a queen pheromone throughout the ant genus Lasius. Phylogenetic analyses of the chemical profile imply that 3-methylalkanes evolve more slowly than other types of hydrocarbons, perhaps due to differential selection or evolutionary constraints. We argue that the sensory ecology of the worker response imposes strong stabilising selection on queen pheromones relative to other hydrocarbons. 3-methylalkanes are also strongly physiologically and genetically coupled with fecundity in at least one Lasius species, which may translate into evolutionary constraints. Our results highlight how honest signalling could minimise evolutionary conflict over reproduction, promoting the evolution and maintenance of eusociality.
Data from: Genetic divergence between the sympatric queen morphs of the ant Myrmica rubra
Pairs of obligate social parasites and their hosts, where some of the parasites have recently diverged from their host through intraspecific social parasitism, provide intriguing systems for studying the modes and processes of speciation. Such speciation, probably in sympatry, has also been propounded in the ant Myrmica rubra and its intraspecific social parasite. In this species, parasitism is associated with queen size dimorphism, and the small microgyne has become a social parasite of the large macrogyne. Here, we investigated the genetic divergence of the host and the parasite queen morphs in 11 localities in southern Finland, using nuclear and mitochondrial markers of queens and workers. We formulated and tested four speciation-related hypotheses that differed in the degree of genetic divergence between the morphs. The queen morphs were genetically distinct from each other with little hybridization. In the nuclear data, when localities were nested within queen morphs in the hierarchical amova, 39% of the genetic variation was explained by the queen morph (standardized F'CT = 0.63, uncorrected FCT = 0.39), whereas 18% was explained by the locality (F'SC = 0.39, FSC = 0.29). This result corroborated the hypothesis of advanced sympatric speciation. In contrast, the mitochondrial DNA could not settle between the hierarchical levels of locality and queen morph, thus substantiating equally the hypotheses of incipient and advanced sympatric speciation. Together, our results support the view that the microgynous parasite has genetically diverged from its macrogynous host to the level of a nascent species.
Data from: Queen-worker ratio affects reproductive skew in a socially polymorphic ant
The partitioning of reproduction among individuals in communally breeding animals varies greatly among species, from the monopolization of reproduction (high reproductive skew) to similar contribution to the offspring in others (low skew). Reproductive skew models explain how relatedness or ecological constraints affect the magnitude of reproductive skew. They typically assume that individuals are capable of flexibly reacting to social and environmental changes. Most models predict a decrease of skew when benefits of staying in the group are reduced. In the ant Leptothorax acervorum, queens in colonies from marginal habitats form dominance hierarchies and only the top-ranking queen lays eggs ("functional monogyny"). In contrast, queens in colonies from extended coniferous forests throughout the Palaearctic rarely interact aggressively and all lay eggs ("polygyny"). An experimental increase of queen:worker ratios in colonies from low-skew populations elicits queen–queen aggression similar to that in functionally monogynous populations. Here, we show that this manipulation also results in increased reproductive inequalities among queens. Queens from natural overwintering colonies differed in the number of developing oocytes in their ovaries. These differences were greatly augmented in queens from colonies with increased queen:worker ratios relative to colonies with a low queen:worker ratio. As assumed by models of reproductive skew, L. acervorum colonies thus appear to be capable of flexibly adjusting reproductive skew to social conditions, yet in the opposite way than predicted by most models.
FIGURE 9A–I. E. procera queen and male. A in Taxonomic Revision of the Southeast Asian Ant Genus Euprenolepis
FIGURE 9A–I. E. procera queen and male. A) queen in lateral view; B) queen head in full-frontal view; C) male in lateral view; D) male head in full-frontal view; E–I male genitalia: E) dorsal view; F) ventral view; G) lateral view; H) volsellar lobe; I) penis valve. Queen and male are both from South Thailand (SYPC)
FIGURE 6A–I. E. negrosensis queen and male. A in Taxonomic Revision of the Southeast Asian Ant Genus Euprenolepis
FIGURE 6A–I. E. negrosensis queen and male. A) queen in lateral view; B) queen head in full-frontal view; C) male in lateral view; D) male head in full-frontal view; E–I male genitalia: E) dorsal view; F) ventral view; G) lateral view; H) volsellar lobe; I) penis valve. Malaysia, Borneo (KEPC).
FIGURE 13A–I. E. wittei queen and male. A in Taxonomic Revision of the Southeast Asian Ant Genus Euprenolepis
FIGURE 13A–I. E. wittei queen and male. A) queen in lateral view; B) queen head in full-frontal view; C) male in lateral view; D) male head in full-frontal view; E–I male genitalia: E) dorsal view; F) ventral view; G) lateral view; H) volsellar lobe; I) penis valve. Queen and male are both from Malaysia,West Malaysia (USNM)
FIGURE 7. Megalomyrmex adamsae. A. Holotype worker, face view. B. Same, lateral view. C. Paratype queen, face view. D. Same, lateral view. E. Paratype male, face view. F. Same, lateral view. G. Male antenna. H in A taxonomic review of the ant genus Megalomyrmex Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Central America
FIGURE 7. Megalomyrmex adamsae. A. Holotype worker, face view. B. Same, lateral view. C. Paratype queen, face view. D. Same, lateral view. E. Paratype male, face view. F. Same, lateral view. G. Male antenna. H. Queen fore and hindwing. Scale bars on face views = 0.5 mm, on lateral views and wings = 1.0 mm.
FIGURE 11. Megalomyrmex reina. A. Holotype queen, face view. B. Same, lateral view. C. Mandible. D in A taxonomic review of the ant genus Megalomyrmex Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Central America
FIGURE 11. Megalomyrmex reina. A. Holotype queen, face view. B. Same, lateral view. C. Mandible. D. Petiole and postpetiole, lateral view. Scale bar on face view = 0.5 mm, on lateral view = 1.0 mm.
FIGURE 9. Megalomyrmex mondaboroides. A. Holotype worker, face view. B. Same, lateral view. C. Paratype queen, face view. D. Same, lateral view. E. Paratype male, face view. F. Same, lateral view. G. Male antenna. H in A taxonomic review of the ant genus Megalomyrmex Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Central America
FIGURE 9. Megalomyrmex mondaboroides. A. Holotype worker, face view. B. Same, lateral view. C. Paratype queen, face view. D. Same, lateral view. E. Paratype male, face view. F. Same, lateral view. G. Male antenna. H. Queen fore and hindwing. Scale bars on face views = 0.5 mm, on lateral views and wings = 1.0 mm.
FIGURE 4. Aptinoma mangabe queen CASENT0175008. A in Two new dolichoderine ant genera from Madagascar: Aptinoma gen. n. and Ravavy gen. n. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
FIGURE 4. Aptinoma mangabe queen CASENT0175008. A, profile; B, dorsum; C, full face; D, dorsum of mesosoma, oblique view; E, petiole in oblique lateral view.
FIGURE 6 in Morphology of immatures of the thelytokous ant, Monomorium triviale Wheeler (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Solenopsidini) with descriptions of the extraordinary last-instar queen larvae
FIGURE 6. Pupae of Monomorium triviale. A. habitus of worker pupa in lateral view; B. habitus of queen pupa in lateral view; C. thorax of queen pupa in dorsal view. All scale bars = 200 μm.
FIGURE 8 in Morphology of immatures of the thelytokous ant, Monomorium triviale Wheeler (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Solenopsidini) with descriptions of the extraordinary last-instar queen larvae
FIGURE 8. Histological section through the protuberances of last instar queen larvae, showing epidermis (ep) and cuticle (cu). A. cross section of dorsal doorknob-like tubercles; B. cross section of lateral doorknob-like tubercles; C. longitudinal section of mid-ventral bosses; D. cross section of mid-ventral bosses. All scale bars = 50 μm.
FIGURE 7 in Morphology of immatures of the thelytokous ant, Monomorium triviale Wheeler (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Solenopsidini) with descriptions of the extraordinary last-instar queen larvae
FIGURE 7. Habitus of last instar Monomorium larvae in ventral view. A. M. hiten worker; B. M. intrudens worker; C. M. chinense worker; D. M. hiten reproductive; E. M. intrudens reproductive; F. M. chinense reproductive. All scale bars = 200 μm.
FIGURE 3 in Morphology of immatures of the thelytokous ant, Monomorium triviale Wheeler (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Solenopsidini) with descriptions of the extraordinary last-instar queen larvae
FIGURE 3. Second instar larva of Monomorium triviale. A. habitus in lateral view; B. habitus in ventral view; C. lateral body surface, showing the spiracles (white arrowheads) and unbranched hairs (black arrowheads) on the thoracic (T2–T3) and abdominal (A1) segments; D. mouthparts: labrum (lr), maxilla (mx), labium (lb), maxillary palp (pm) and labial palp (pl). Scale bars: 50 μm (A, B); 14.2 μm (C, D).
FIGURE 2 in Morphology of immatures of the thelytokous ant, Monomorium triviale Wheeler (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Solenopsidini) with descriptions of the extraordinary last-instar queen larvae
FIGURE 2. Egg and first instar larva of Monomorium triviale. A. side view of egg; B. habitus of first instar larva in lateral view; C. habitus of first instar larva in ventral view; D. lateral body surface of first instar larva, showing the spiracles (white arrowheads) and unbranched hairs (black arrowheads) on the thoracic (T2–T3) and abdominal (A1) segments; E. mouthparts of first instar larvae: labrum (lr), maxilla (mx), mandible (M), labium (lb) and labial palp (pl). Scale bars: 33.3 μm (A, B, C); 14.2 μm (D, E).
FIGURE 5 in Morphology of immatures of the thelytokous ant, Monomorium triviale Wheeler (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Solenopsidini) with descriptions of the extraordinary last-instar queen larvae
FIGURE 5. Last instar larva of Monomorium triviale queen. A. habitus in lateral view; B. habitus in ventral view; C. habitus in dorsal view; D. head and mouthparts: antenna (an), clypeus (cl), labrum (lr), maxilla (mx), labium (lb), maxillary palp (pm) and labial palp (pl); E. body hairs; F. doorknob-like tubercle; G. mid-ventral boss. Scale bars: 142 μm (A, B, C); 20 μm (D, E, F, G).
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Allen Brain Atlas
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DANDI Archive for NWB datasets
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International Brain Laboratory public data
The International Brain Laboratory public data releases expose standardized mouse decision-making experiments, including Neuropixels recordings, widefield calcium imaging, behavior, and session metadata accessed through the ONE API.
OpenNeuro
OpenNeuro is a free, open platform for sharing neuroimaging datasets, with public search, dataset pages, and download paths for web, S3, DataLad, and the OpenNeuro CLI.