Ploygyny in a Colony of the Fire Ant Solenopsis geminata1

Abstract

Although the queens of some ant species have long been known to unite to found colonies (pleometrosis), only a few species have been observed to have multiple queens in a single well-established colony (polygyny). Brian (1965) and Sudd (1967) reviewed the works of several authors that reported finding multiple queens in well-established colonies of certain Lasius species. Gray (1971) reported finding multiple queens in colonies of Myrmecia dispar (Clark) and M. desortum Wheeler. Wilson (1971) reviewed some of the same reports mentioned by Brian and Sudd and cited other instances of the finding of multiple queens in a single colony. He stated that large colonies of Campanotus herculeanus (Latrielle) and C. ligniperda (Latrielle) often contain several queens. He further stated that J. C. Moser and M. S. Blum, respectively, in personal communications had reported the occasional finding of 2 queens in colonies of Atta texana Buckley and “Solenopsis saevissima.” The latter species is very closely related to S. geminata (F.), belonging to the same genus. Also Markin et al. (1972) found as many as 50 of the queens of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, clustered together under stones, cans, or other debris following nuptial flights and from 2 to 5 queens in common brood chambers with egg masses and small larvae. However, by the time the 1st workers appeared, only a single queen remained and in well-established colonies no more than one fertile queen was ever found.