15 replies to this topic

[PacificNorthWestern]

Are this 2 ants (polgynes?). i have 9 queens in my Solenopsis molesta colony and 4 queens in Brachymyrmex colony and really don't want to lose this guys. Thank you guys for the responses.

 

sorry bout the double post. said i didn't have permission for the first one so i posted it again

[Mercutia]

Yes to Solenopsis molesta.

 

Can't remember about Brachymyrmex.

[Canadian anter]

Both are polygynous

[ponerinecat]

Half my solenopsis killed each other, neatly cutting the head off, so I guess it depends.

[NickAnter]

Some Solenopsis molesta are polygynous, some are dead not, and will rip each other to shreds.

[PacificNorthWestern]

Well it's been about one day, and not one has died. so i guess they are polygynous.

[Kaelwizard]

Well it's been about one day, and not one has died. so i guess they are polygynous.

One day doesn’t prove anything. They could wait however long they want or until workers come to kill each other.

[PacificNorthWestern]

true, but they said they either would rip each other apart or are polygynous. hopefully when i get workers no queens die...

[Silq]

maybe some are pleometrotic..

 

Pleometrosis is a behavior observed in social insects where colony formation is initiated by multiple queens primarily by the same species of insect. This type of behavior has been mainly studied in ants but also occurs in wasps, bees, and termites. This behavior is of significant interest to scientists particularly in ants and termites because nest formation often happens between queens that are unrelated ruling out the argument of inclusive fitness as the driving force of pleometrosis.^[1] Whereas in other species such as wasps and bees co-founding queens are often related.^[2] The majority of species that engage in pleometrosis after the initial stages of colony formation will reduce their colonies number of queens down to one dominant queen and either kill or push out the supernumeracy queens.^[3] However there are some cases where pleometrosis formed colonies keep multiple queens for longer than the early stages of colony growth.^[3] Colony Formation can help to speed through the early stages of colony growth by producing a larger worker ant population faster which helps to out-compete other colonies in high colony dense areas.^[3] However forming colonies with multiple queens can also cause intra-colony competition between the queens possibly lowering the likelihood of survival of a queen in a pleometrosis colony.^[2]

 

^{from Wiki}

Edited by Silq, August 22 2019 - 1:14 PM.

[NickAnter]

In my experience, the one in HB, cooperate for some time, but eventually but eventually, before the get workers it seems, they will fight. They most often use beheading.

[Mercutia]

For Solenopsis at least, I have kept colonies of multiple queens and they surpassed far beyond founding so in at least their case, I don’t think they are pleometric.

[AntsDakota]

I have heard that polygyne in this species depends on region. Colonies on the East Coast are, and West Coast are not. Colonies here are most definitely polygynous. 

Edited by AntsDakota, August 23 2019 - 8:50 AM.

[AntsDakota]

In my experience, the one in HB, cooperate for some time, but eventually but eventually, before the get workers it seems, they will fight. They most often use beheading.

West Coast.

 

 

For Solenopsis at least, I have kept colonies of multiple queens and they surpassed far beyond founding so in at least their case, I don’t think they are pleometric.

East Coast.

Edited by AntsDakota, August 23 2019 - 8:52 AM.

[Mercutia]

I have heard that polygyne in this species depends on region. Colonies on the East Coast are, and West Coast are not. Colonies here are most definitely polygynous. 

That's actually a very interesting observation. Do you have any more studies that back this up? Even anecdotally (other than what was just discussed here)?

 

I wonder if it might have something to do with less hospitable conditions. Perhaps the harsher climates force them to be a little bit more amicable to each other whereas more temperate climates mean they can be more aggressive with each other? I'm just speculating and theorizing here.

[Mdrogun]

We cannot tell you anything about the ants you're keeping with confidence unless you give us the full identification. Some Brachymyrmex are polygynous, some are not, some Brachymyrmex have replete-like workers.

 

Solenopsis molesta in my experience has been facultatively polygynous, although I am aware this can range from flat out monogyny to full on polygyny depending on the location. Also, keep in mind, there are many species of "thief ant" and they all look very similar. It is even thought that Solenopsis molesta itself is a species group that needs further taxonomic work.

[Mercutia]

We cannot tell you anything about the ants you're keeping with confidence unless you give us the full identification. Some Brachymyrmex are polygynous, some are not, some Brachymyrmex have replete-like workers.

 

Solenopsis molesta in my experience has been facultatively polygynous, although I am aware this can range from flat out monogyny to full on polygyny depending on the location. Also, keep in mind, there are many species of "thief ant" and they all look very similar. It is even thought that Solenopsis molesta itself is a species group that needs further taxonomic work.

The title mentions Solenopsis molesta and Brachymyrmex depilis.