A queen pheromone induces workers to kill sexual larvae in colonies of the red imported fire ant ( Solenopsis invicta )

Klobuchar, Emily Ann; Deslippe, Richard J.

doi:10.1007/s00114-002-0331-1

Cited by 32 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…These observations suggest that workers that are BB tend to destroy bb and b broods and that workers that are bb or Bb destroy BB and B broods. Although the sensitivity of workers to subtle differences in nest-mate recognition cues may ultimately be under queen control (Deslippe 2002;Klubachar and Deslippe 2002;Vander Meer and Alonso 2002), the relative fates of particular genotypes in a colony may depend on the frequencies of worker genotypes being produced, which in turn depends on the frequency of B and b sperm present in queens.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selective Male Mortality in the Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta

2006

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Males in polygyne populations of Solenopsis invicta are primarily sterile diploids and thought to not express the Gp-9 gene coding for a pheromone-binding protein affecting complex social behavior. We examined an aspect of the breeding system hitherto not considered-male Gp-9 genotypes in relation to sperm stored in queens. Four sites with varying frequencies of sympatric monogyne and polygyne colonies were sampled, including sexuals, workers, and broods from four colonies. Most queens were heterozygotes storing B sperm. Although predicted to be common, only 14 of 504 males were B or BB genotypes, suggesting strong selection. Increased frequency of polygyne colonies at each site paralleled increases in queens with b sperm (1.9-32.8%) and of noninseminated queens. The presence of both B and b sperm in 1.9-18.9% of queens, genotype profiles of colonies, and genotypes of offspring from individual queens suggest some frequency of multiple mating. The bb genotype, rather than an obligate, developmental lethal, was present in some queens and common in alates, workers, and brood. Selective mortality of sexuals may affect multiple aspects of the breeding system, including female-mediated dispersal, mating success, and gene flow. E USOCIAL Hymenoptera with multiple queens present a particular challenge to kin selection theory and the evolution of social systems insofar as an additional layer of relatedness dynamics (e.g., queens to queens, workers to queens) must be considered in formulating models of sociality, estimating costs and benefits, and predicting particular social outcomes (Ross and Keller 1995; Hannonen and Sundströ m 2003). The effect of polyandry has similar theoretical implications regarding the balance between reproductive cooperation and conflict (Ratnieks 1990;Keller 1995;Crozier and Pamilo 1996), although obligate polyandry is relatively rare in the social Hymenoptera (Strassmann 2001).Outside of honeybees, the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, is perhaps the best-known and most intensely studied species of eusocial insect. Over the past 20 years, studies have provided a detailed description of the population genetic structure and breeding system of this species, demonstrating that complex social behavior can have a simple genetic basis and be affected by novel environmental/genetic contexts due

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selective Male Mortality in the Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta

2006

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“…on whether fertile queens are present in the colonies (Edwards, 1987;, and on the age of queens (Petersen-Braun, 1977). As in the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) and the red imported fire ant, pharaoh ant workers have been shown to be able to discriminate and kill sexual larvae and thereby potentially control colony caste ratios (Vargo and Fletcher, 1986;Edwards, 1991;Vargo and Passera, 1991;Klobuchar and Deslippe, 2002). Eggs laid by queens older than 4 weeks are bipotent (Petersen-Braun, 1977), meaning that they can develop into either gynes or workers.…”

Section: Study Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Queen–worker caste ratio depends on colony size in the pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis)

et al. 2010

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The success of an ant colony depends on the simultaneous presence of reproducing queens and nonreproducing workers in a ratio that will maximize colony growth and reproduction. Despite its presumably crucial role, queen-worker caste ratios (the ratio of adult queens to workers) and the factors affecting this variable remain scarcely studied. Maintaining polygynous pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis) colonies in the laboratory has provided us with the opportunity to experimentally manipulate colony size, one of the key factors that can be expected to affect colony level queen-worker caste ratios and body size of eclosing workers, gynes and males. We found that smaller colonies produced more new queens relative to workers, and that these queens and workers both tended to be larger. However, colony size had no effect on the size of males or on the sex ratio of the individuals reared. Furthermore, for the first time in a social insect, we confirmed the general life history prediction by Smith and Fretwell (Am Nat 108:499-506, 1974) that offspring number varies more than offspring size. Our findings document a high level of plasticity in energy allocation toward female castes and suggest that polygynous species with budding colonies may adaptively adjust caste ratios to ensure rapid growth.

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“…It may be noted that the rub abdomen behaviour shown by the R. marginata queen is reminiscent of the abdominal stroking behaviour reported for Polistes queens, and which is believed to be used for applying recognition odors on the nest (Dani et al 1992;Van Hooser et al 2002). Since the queen pheromone in R. marginata may be non-volatile, the use of proteinaceous pheromones (Klobuchar and Deslippe 2002;Turillazzi et al 2006) is a possibility that deviates from the usual CHC-based pheromones commonly believed to be used in other species. Besides, CHC's do not appear to function as fertility signals in Ropalidia opifex (Dapporto et al 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Workers of the primitively eusocial wasp Ropalidia marginata do not perceive their queen across a wire mesh partition

Annagiri

Deshpande

Bhadra

et al. 2007

J Ethol

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Queens of primitively eusocial wasps generally have active and behaviourally dominant queens who use physical aggression to suppress worker reproduction. Although a Ropalidia marginata queen is strikingly docile and behaviourally non-dominant, she is completely successful in maintaining reproductive monopoly. R. marginata queens must achieve such reproductive monopoly by some means other than overt physical aggression. Upon loss or removal of the queen, one of the workers (referred to as the potential queen) becomes extremely aggressive and will eventually go on to become the next queen of the colony, if the original queen is not returned. The fact that potential queens are not discernible in the presence of the queen but become obvious within minutes after removal of the queen raises the question of how workers in general and the potential queens in particular, perceive the presence or absence of their queens. Here, we have conducted experiments in which we separate half of the workers from their queen by a wire mesh screen and study their behavioural response to such separation. We demonstrate that the presence of the queen is not perceived across the wire mesh screen, which suggests that if the queen uses a pheromone to signal her presence, then that pheromone is not very volatile.

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A queen pheromone induces workers to kill sexual larvae in colonies of the red imported fire ant ( Solenopsis invicta )

Cited by 32 publications

References 12 publications

Selective Male Mortality in the Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta

Selective Male Mortality in the Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta

Queen–worker caste ratio depends on colony size in the pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis)

Workers of the primitively eusocial wasp Ropalidia marginata do not perceive their queen across a wire mesh partition

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