Sociogenetic Organization of the Red Honey Ant (Melophorus bagoti).

ABSTRACT: Kin selection and inclusive fitness are thought to be key factors explaining the reproductive altruism displayed by workers in eusocial insect species. However, when a colony's queen has mated with <2 males, workers may increase their fitness by producing their own male offspring. Conversely, when the queen has mated with ≥2 males, workers are expected to increase their inclusive fitness by eschewing the production of their sons and preventing other workers from reproducing as well. Here, we investigated sociogenetic structure and worker reproduction in the red honey ant, Melophorus bagoti. Morphometric analyses revealed that workers belong to one of two distinct subcastes: they are either majors or minors. Using DNA microsatellite markers, we showed that all the colonies had a single, mul

SUBMITTER: Lecocq de Pletincx N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7693516 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature