1 reply to this topic

[AntsBC]

I found this video while I was surfing youtube and thought some of you might get a kick out of it. 

 

[DaveJay]

This relates to a question I asked about Gamergates recently. If I caught bull-ant workers would they lay eggs? Unfertilised eggs would hatch out to be male so then would the male mate with a female worker to produce a Gamergate which in turn could lay an egg that becomes a Queen?

The answer I got was that ants mate in flight so it won't happen in captivity, this video makes it seem possible at least with some species that produce Gamergates.

I would have liked to see more of the story and had the members discuss it.

 

From Antwiki : Queen-worker dimorphism in size is moderate to pronounced, according to species (Peeters 1997). Several species deviate from the norm with brachypterous (i.e. short-winged) queens that disperse on foot (Clark 1951). Other species have ergatoid (permanently wingless) queens (e.g. Haskins & Haskins 1955).

 

So with wingless or short winged queens in some species there is a precedent for mating without flying, I'm thinking it could be possible.

Edited by DaveJay, August 10 2018 - 4:58 AM.