Mating system and population structure in the desert ant Cataglyphis livida

Iris Timmermans*, L. Grumiau, A. Hefetz, S. Aron

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

We investigated population genetic structure, mating system, worker reproduction and thelytokous parthenogenesis in the desert ant Cataglyphis livida. Pedigree analyses at polymorphic microsatellite loci show that colonies are headed by a single queen, and that queens are mated with two to eight males. No inbreeding was found in the population sampled. Colonies are genetically differentiated and exhibit no isolation-by-distance pattern, consistent with independent foundation of new colonies. Workers do reproduce and lay haploid (arrhenotokous) eggs in queenless colonies; conversely, we found no evidence of worker reproduction in queenright nests. In contrast with C. cursor, where new queens are produced by thelytokous parthenogenesis, female sexuals and workers of C. livida arise from classical sexual reproduction. We discuss the parallels and contrasts between the mating system and population structure in C. livida and the other Cataglyphis species studied so far.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)39-46
Number of pages8
JournalInsectes Sociaux
Volume57
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010

Funding

FundersFunder number
University of Brussels
Fonds pour la Formation à la Recherche dans l’Industrie et dans l’Agriculture
Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique

    Keywords

    • Ants
    • Cataglyphis
    • Polyandry
    • Social structure
    • Thelytoky

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