Ants are highly social insects that live in organized colonies, often perceived as centered around a single, reproductive queen. These intricate societies are known for their division of labor and coordinated efforts. While a queen is generally considered fundamental to an ant colony’s survival and reproduction, there are fascinating exceptions to this common understanding.
The Queen’s Central Role in a Colony
In most ant species, the queen is the colony’s primary reproductive, laying all eggs that develop into new ants. She initiates the colony after a nuptial flight, finding a suitable nesting site and laying her initial batch of eggs, relying on her own body reserves until the first workers emerge. The queen also produces pheromones that regulate colony behavior, maintain social structure, and influence worker sterility. Without her continuous egg production, the colony cannot grow or sustain its population, as workers are typically sterile and have limited lifespans.
What Happens When a Queen is Absent
The absence of a queen in most ant colonies typically leads to a terminal decline. Without her consistent egg-laying, new generations of ants cease to be produced. As existing worker ants age and die, the colony’s population gradually dwindles, unable to replenish itself. This leaves the colony vulnerable to external threats.
Worker ants may also exhibit disorganization without the queen’s regulating pheromones, leading to less effective foraging and brood care. The colony’s lifespan becomes limited to its current worker population, which can range from weeks to months.
Ant Colonies That Defy the Norm
While a queen is generally indispensable, some ant colonies can survive or even thrive without a single queen, showcasing remarkable adaptations. Certain species exhibit polygyny, with multiple queens within a single colony. The loss of one queen does not doom the colony, as other reproductive queens can continue egg production. Examples include Argentine ants, which can have millions of queens in vast supercolonies, and species like Monomorium pharaonis and Tapinoma sessile.
Another exception involves species where certain worker ants can become reproductive, known as gamergates. These are mated worker ants capable of laying fertilized eggs that develop into females. This adaptation allows the colony to persist in the absence of a queen caste, as seen in some Ponerinae subfamily species. Additionally, a colony might experience temporary queenlessness, such as during colony budding or if a queen dies and new queens are being reared, allowing for temporary survival.