3 replies to this topic

[ExponentMars]

Don't stinging ants have an advantage over non-stinging ants? if so, then how come not all ants have evolved stingers? Heck, how did ants even DEVOLVE and LOSE their stingers? They evolved from stinging wasps, after all. 

[Chickalo]

Sure, however, there's other evolutions.  For instance the subfamily Formicinae has instead evolved to bite and put Formic Acid into the cut, which also burns.  Generally, it really depends on which ants are going against which.  I'm not sure about subfamily Dolichoderinae though.  A lot of other subgenera evolved stingers though.  There are also alternatives, like Odontomachus trap jaws.

[Manitobant]

All ants originally had stingers, and this is why all primitive ant subfamilies have them. However, some of the more advanced ant subfamilies, like formicinae, evolved to replace their stings with other abilities, such as formic acid. While this may seem like a bad thing, formic acid and other abilities that replaced stings are effective against other ants and insects in their own way.

[Martialis]

All ants originally had stingers, and this is why all primitive ant subfamilies have them. However, some of the more advanced ant subfamilies, like formicinae, evolved to replace their stings with other abilities, such as formic acid. While this may seem like a bad thing, formic acid and other abilities that replaced stings are effective against other ants and insects in their own way.

This is accurate. With the vast diversity of lifestyles exhibited the many species and families of ants, stingers aren’t necessarily too beneficial, either. If I recall correctly, for instance, Atta & Acronyrmex spp. (And maybe the wider Attini? Don’t remember exactly) do not use their stingers for defense.