7 replies to this topic

[LC3]

So here's something to ponder about.

 

 I was outside and I caught a Myrmica queen. So no not weird but It had no wing marks and it was aggressive to the workers of the large "main" colony of my backyard where it was near. It was also somewhat smaller than an average alate being 5mm so I believe it is a microgyne. I did some research and there are a few studies concluding that microgynes are actually social parasites that target old mature colonies to basically exchanging quality for quantity meaning that they are more numerous than macrogynes but less efficient. So I would like to know if you ever encountered a microgyne in your captive colony and if so was it there originally or they developed later. I wonder if the microgyne might have been trying to infiltrate the colony or if they develop from the colony. Note that I broke open the colony a few times before, found larvae and pupae but never encountered a queen. The alates released during nuptial flights last year (from my bad vague memory) were all macrogynes.

 

PS. This is why I love Myrmica. They're just so weird even in the ant world.

 

I'll upload photos later. cause stuff.

 

[Myrmicinae]

"Microgynes," or unusually small queens, are common throughout Myrmica, but, as far as I know, apterous (wingless) queens have never been discovered.  How do you know that this was not just a large worker? 

[LC3]

Because Myrmica are monomorphic not polymorphic and if a full 1 or 1.5 mm wasn't over sized than idunno what. Also I never said that they were wingless to begin with I just said I found the queen with no fresh scars that indicated it lost it's wings recently.

[Myrmicinae]

Because Myrmica are monomorphic not polymorphic and if a full 1 or 1.5 mm wasn't over sized than idunno what. Also I never said that they were wingless to begin with I just said I found the queen with no fresh scars that indicated it lost it's wings recently.

 

Queens, regardless of age, will always retain their wing scars.  Myrmica can show significant size variation in one colony, although it is not organized or conspicuous enough to be considered true polymorphism.  Is there any chance you could get a photo of her?

Edited by Myrmicinae, July 5 2015 - 8:23 PM.

[LC3]

Yes I can get a photo but not right now. cause reasons. Anyway I'v noted very small almost seemingly unnoticeable differences between Myrmica workers. I'm sure she's a queen most likely a microgyne. But I'm more curious on microgynes in general than queen or not.

[Myrmicinae]

This is indeed a fascinating subject.  Myrmica microgynes are not always social parasites.  For example, M. ruginodis is roughly divided into microgynous/polygynous and macrogynous/monogynous populations.  Colonies of the former spread only by budding, while those of the latter rely entirely on independent semi-claustral colony foundation.  Also, M. ruginodis microgynes tend to mate directly outside of the nest entrance, while the macrogynes fly a distance before mating.  Unfortunately, it seems that this kind of queen dimorphism has been studied in only very few Myrmica spp.

Edited by Myrmicinae, July 5 2015 - 8:50 PM.

[LC3]

Indeed. Very fascinating subject. The only studies published online that I can find were conducted on M. rubra . Which means that in some Myrmica spp. the roles,behaviours and history of microgynes may highly vary

 

Here are a few docs I found that provided an insight into the subject.

 

 

-Sympatric speciation through intraspecific social parasitism

http://www.pnas.org/.../7169.full.pdf 

 

 

-Alternative reproductive tactics in females: the case of size polymorphism in winged ant queens

http://libres.uncg.e...native_1999.pdf

 

 

-Genetic differentiation between the ant Myrmica rubra and its microgynous social parasite

http://www1.bio.ku.d...enetal2009.pdf 

 

All of these focused mainly on M.rubra.

Edited by LC3, July 5 2015 - 9:00 PM.

[Myrmicinae]

Indeed. Very fascinating subject. The only studies published online that I can find were conducted on M. rubra . Which means that in some Myrmica spp. the roles,behaviours and history of microgynes may highly vary

 

Here are a few docs I found that provided an insight into the subject.

 

 

-Sympatric speciation through intraspecific social parasitism

http://www.pnas.org/.../7169.full.pdf 

 

 

-Alternative reproductive tactics in females: the case of size polymorphism in winged ant queens

http://libres.uncg.e...native_1999.pdf

 

 

-Genetic differentiation between the ant Myrmica rubra and its microgynous social parasite

http://www1.bio.ku.d...enetal2009.pdf 

 

All of these focused mainly on M.rubra.

 

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find some of the earlier cited articles on M. ruginodis queen dimorphism, but see these abstracts:

 

http://onlinelibrary...0234.x/abstract

 

http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/110003501890/

 

Also, this will be an interesting study when/if it is published.

 

http://ses.library.u...144/2/OR364.pdf