12 replies to this topic

[thosaka]

Is there a scenario where a queen gives birth to a young queen and a male drone, and then the male drone fertilizes the young queen. I am trying to think ahead to see how a species can continue its lineage in captivity.

Edited by Tagassi, March 14 2017 - 4:21 PM.

[Batspiderfish]

It's actually kind of common in ants, but those which use this strategy have evolved some way to mitigate the consequences of inbreeding.

http://rspb.royalsoc...t/278/1718/2677

https://www.research...-Formicidae.pdf

[thosaka]

It's actually kind of common in ants, but those which use this strategy have evolved some way to mitigate the consequences of inbreeding.

http://rspb.royalsoc...t/278/1718/2677

https://www.research...-Formicidae.pdf

Nice. Thank you. I understood the first one, but does the second one refer to males being able to copulate 3 times vs the typical 1 time and dying?

[Antsinmycloset]

Absolutely. There are also ants that skip males entirely. That said, and I'll probably have someone want to debate this point, but I feel the downsides of a little inbreeding here and there are usually overstated.

[MrPurpleB]

Interesting. I know on antscanada, Mickey talked about how black crazy ants have queens that can clone the males, that the queen mated with to mate again. 

[thosaka]

Interesting. I know on antscanada, Mickey talked about how black crazy ants have queens that can clone the males, that the queen mated with to mate again. 

That is crazy, at least if that happened in our world 

Paratrechina longicornis is my next dream ant for inbreeding.

[Serafine]

Harpegnathos sort of does it, it's not really inbreeding though. Their queen usually dies after the young colony is stable and then the workers engage into ritualized duels over the right to lay eggs. If that worker dies the next can just take over (after another series of duels).

Edited by Serafine, March 14 2017 - 4:56 PM.

[Batspiderfish]

 

It's actually kind of common in ants, but those which use this strategy have evolved some way to mitigate the consequences of inbreeding.

http://rspb.royalsoc...t/278/1718/2677

https://www.research...-Formicidae.pdf

Nice. Thank you. I understood the first one, but does the second one refer to males being able to copulate 3 times vs the typical 1 time and dying?

 

Anergates atratulus (now part of Tetramorium, i.e. Tetramorium atratulum) is a species with wingless pupa-like males that mate inside the colony with their siblings. It's speculated that these sorts of evolutionary trends in males are tied to viability of inbreeding in ants.

[thosaka]

Harpegnathos sort of does it, it's not really inbreeding though. Their queen usually dies after the young colony is stable and then the workers engage into ritualized duels over the right to lay eggs. If that worker dies the next can just take over (after another series of duels).

Nice. That method works as well. I will add that to my dream list Thank you.

[thosaka]

 

 

It's actually kind of common in ants, but those which use this strategy have evolved some way to mitigate the consequences of inbreeding.

http://rspb.royalsoc...t/278/1718/2677

https://www.research...-Formicidae.pdf

Nice. Thank you. I understood the first one, but does the second one refer to males being able to copulate 3 times vs the typical 1 time and dying?

 

Anergates atratulus (now part of Tetramorium, i.e. Tetramorium atratulum) is a species with wingless pupa-like males that mate inside the colony with their siblings. It's speculated that these sorts of evolutionary trends in males are tied to viability of inbreeding in ants.

 

Awesome. I will add that to my dream list as well. Thank you again.

[Alabama Anter]

Pheidole megacephala

Tapinoma melanocephalum

Paratrechina longicornis

Anoplolepis gracilipes

Linepithema humile

[thosaka]

 

Pheidole megacephala

Tapinoma melanocephalum

Paratrechina longicornis

Anoplolepis gracilipes

Linepithema humile

 

Nice. I will add those to the list as well. Thank you!

[MrPurpleB]

Interesting, I did not know there were that many ants that bred differently to the generic nuptial flights. I assume it would be harder to catch these species, if they are able to breed with out leaving the nest.