5 replies to this topic

[RushmoreAnts]

So, I recently acquired a Tapinoma sessile colony with several hundred workers. Three queens were introduced, yet apparently they were rejected, as they were not with the colony. The colony now has but a single queen pupa. I am aware these can breed in the nest, yet I was wondering if the workers might lay male eggs? I’m hoping some of their current brood is male, though.

[PurdueEntomology]

We know that sibling mating has been reported in literature but this has not actually to my knowledge been confirmed.  I believe it is one explanation for polygyny being present, but I am not aware of any observations or genetic analysis to confirm sibling mating.  It is suspected that gynes attract males from other colonies and then just stay within their natal colony but again this has not been confirmed to my knowledge.  Upshot, you may try.  I have never had any success in getting this species to mate in a laboratory setting and I am not aware of it being done.  

[TennesseeAnts]

We know that sibling mating has been reported in literature but this has not actually to my knowledge been confirmed.  I believe it is one explanation for polygyny being present, but I am not aware of any observations or genetic analysis to confirm sibling mating.  It is suspected that gynes attract males from other colonies and then just stay within their natal colony but again this has not been confirmed to my knowledge.  Upshot, you may try.  I have never had any success in getting this species to mate in a laboratory setting and I am not aware of it being done.

I've got them to mate in petri dishes.

[PurdueEntomology]

 

We know that sibling mating has been reported in literature but this has not actually to my knowledge been confirmed.  I believe it is one explanation for polygyny being present, but I am not aware of any observations or genetic analysis to confirm sibling mating.  It is suspected that gynes attract males from other colonies and then just stay within their natal colony but again this has not been confirmed to my knowledge.  Upshot, you may try.  I have never had any success in getting this species to mate in a laboratory setting and I am not aware of it being done.

I've got them to mate in petri dishes.

 

that is good to know, I will continue to try then

Were they siblings?

[TennesseeAnts]

 

 

We know that sibling mating has been reported in literature but this has not actually to my knowledge been confirmed.  I believe it is one explanation for polygyny being present, but I am not aware of any observations or genetic analysis to confirm sibling mating.  It is suspected that gynes attract males from other colonies and then just stay within their natal colony but again this has not been confirmed to my knowledge.  Upshot, you may try.  I have never had any success in getting this species to mate in a laboratory setting and I am not aware of it being done.

I've got them to mate in petri dishes.

 

that is good to know, I will continue to try then

Were they siblings?

 

I don't know if they were or not. I grabbed them from a large colony with many queens... I assume they were unrelated.

[PurdueEntomology]

in these situations run an aggression test:  have 3 workers from one colony and 3 from the other.  Make sure they are calm and introduce them.  If there are clear signs of aggression: grabbing with mandibles, twisting gasters to spray formic acid then they are from non-sibling colonies.