Queen Ant Selection Process
When it comes to spawning new queens in the ant colonies, selection is a vital process. The ant community depends on the strength and vitality of their queens, as they are vital for the maintenance and succession of colonies. Queen ants are usually chosen when they develop fully grown wings, signaling they are ready to fly, spread their eggs, and create a new colony. But the selection process of a queen ant can be a much more complex matter than what meets the eye.
Most ant species practice a form of selection called monogyne, where only one queen will rule the colony. One of the most peculiar ways that this kind of selection is made involves the prenatal cannibalism of future queen ants. During the development of ant larvae, worker ants distinguish those that have a higher chance to become a successful queen and give them their best share of food and care. The larvae become larger and develop into pupae, and those that are the healthiest and strongest are chosen to continue the line of the colony.
The Fighting Process
Given the complex nature of choosing queens, competition and aggression are common. When the future queens reach maturity, they take off on their mating flights, a process known as nuptial flight. During this process, the fully-winged female ants mate with the males of other weaker colonies, while the tallest and strongest females of the same colony fight tooth and nail to the death.
The strongest and most impressive female ant will decide the colony’s fate and will become the new queen. After the victor is chosen, the survivors of the fighting process return to the colony, their abdomens full of sperm, ready to create new generations of ant members as a mix of their own and the weak colony’s lineage.
Queens Of Invading Colonies
Some species of ants, like the carpenter ants, practice a type of selection called polygny, where several overlapping colonies of different classes come together. The queen ants of the more powerful and advanced colonies will prevail and become the main ruling queens of the new colony, while the less advanced queens will become the backup rulers in case of an emergency.
Different species use different methods of selection for their queens. The way that this process works is an interesting example of the complex social hierarchies that exist in nature, something that has captivated researchers for a long time.
The Role Of Worker Ants
It is the worker ants that select and choose the strongest ones from the bunch. The presence of highly apt worker ants is a major factor in determining which larvae will grow into a queen. Worker ants are able to differentiate between those with the highest potential and ensure their survival and well-being during their pupal stage. Apart from feeding and caring for them, they also prioritize the health of the most robust larvae by using a process known as phoresy, where they move the strongest ones with their heads to avoid security threats.
Without the effective selection of the worker ants, the queens of the colony would not be able to express their full potential and make the colony stronger.
The Role Of The Female Ants
The fighting process in monogyne colonies is the job of females only, as the male ants do not fight due to its low mortality rate, making it too risky for them. However, the fighting among female ants can be extremely fierce, resulting in queens often missing legs, antennas, or being injured during the fights.
The female ants also have another important task, which is defending their colony from intruders. The female ants which act as a shield for their future queens, and remain fiercely loyal through their whole life, making it a safe and ideal environment for new queens to grow and rule the colony. Also, the females are responsible of ensuring not only the survival of their eggs and larvae, but also their own; as these females always die after mating, they need to create a safe and productive environment while they still can.
The Mating Process: A Risky But Rewarding Place
Most species of ant will only mate with males from a different and weaker colony, as mating with male ants from the same colony can lead to inbreeding and a decrease in genetic diversity. Consequently, queen ants usually risk their own life by leaving their home colony and going on a mating flight, a process in which males from different colonies follow and flock around the female in a process known as lekking.
However, the mating process is strenuous and rife with danger, as the queens are often targeted by predators. In the instance that a queen finds a successful mate, the female will venture back to the colony carrying millions of different sperm cells in its abdomen, readying to create their new colony.
The Environment And The Queen Ant
The environment in which queen ants grow is paramount for the success or failure of their reproduction. External factors, both natural and unnatural, can have a dramatic effect in the queen’s outcomes, shortening their lifespan or taking away their opportunity to mate.
Therefore, good environmental conditions are vital for a successful queen ant, and is why environment conservation and preservation is so important for the success of future generations of queen ants.
Potential Health Threats To The Colony
In a perfect environment where the queen ant can mate and grow successfully, their offspring might still turn out weak, powerless and frail due to a genetic factor known as inbreeding depression.
Inbreeding depression can be detrimental to a colony, diminishing the ant’s fitness and vigor, and therefore its survival chances of the colony. The strength of the colony is prompted by the strength of the queen, making it all the more important that this selection, while looking to develop strong queen ants, also keeps in mind the potential health threats that may arise if the colony doesn’t use a larger gene pool.
Public Education And Involvement
For many years, queen ant selection has been a topic that has captivated scientists and researchers alike, but to the general public, the subject of queen ants has remained mostly obscure. As such, many people are unaware of the important but delicate process that goes on in the background.
In recent years, however, there has been an increased effort from the scientific community to involve the public in the subject, raising awareness and giving people the opportunity to understand the unique and intricate process of queen ant selection.
Public programs aimed at educating people about the process have started to become increasingly popular, giving people the opportunity to learn about the natural process of a queen ant’s selection, and the importance of the environment for healthy ant colonies.
The Legacy Left Behind
A successful queen ant is a great achievement, ensuring the survival and success of their colony, as well as the well-being of future generations of ants. But the process of selection and survival rate of queens is not a reliable one, as queens are often stolen, killed or injured during mating flights.
For this reason, it is a serious matter to consider the future for queen ants, and an important one for the natural community, as their success or failure will have a determining impact on the world around us. Without successful queen ants, the survival of many species will be seriously endangered, making the selection of strong and reliable queens an important part in preserving the equilibrium of the ecosystem.
