Production of females by parthenogenesis in the ant,Cerapachys biroi

Tsuji, Kazuki; Yamauchi, Katsusuke

doi:10.1007/bf01240430

Cited by 72 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The ability of workers to reproduce by both modes of parthenogenesis has been reported in several other ant species: Cerapachys biroi (Tsuji and Yamauchi, 1995), Platythyrea punctata (Heinze and Hö lldobler, 1995), Messor capitatus (Grasso et al, 2000) and Cataglyphis cursor (Cagniant, 1980). In these species, worker reproduction reportedly occurs in queenless colonies only.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population genetic structure, worker reproduction and thelytokous parthenogenesis in the desert ant Cataglyphis sabulosa

Timmermans¹,

Hefetz

Fournier³

et al. 2008

Heredity

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In social Hymenoptera, within-colony relatedness is usually high due to the haplodiploid sex-determining system. However, factors such as the presence of multiple reproductive queens (polygyny), multiple queen matings (polyandry) or worker reproduction result in decreased relatedness among workers and the brood they rear, and consequently dilute their inclusive fitness benefits from helping. Here, we investigated population genetic structure, mating system, worker reproduction and parthenogenesis in the desert ant Cataglyphis sabulosa. Analysis of worker genotypes showed that colonies are headed by a single queen, mated with 1-5 males. The inbreeding coefficient within colonies and the levels of relatedness between the queens and their mates were positive, indicating that mating occurs between related individuals. Moreover, the mates of a queen are on average related and contribute equally to worker production. Our analyses also indicate that colonies are genetically differentiated and form a population exhibiting no isolation-by-distance pattern, consistent with the independent foundation of new colonies (that is, without the help of workers). Finally, both ovarian dissections and genetic data on the parentage of males show that workers do not reproduce in queenright colonies; however, they lay both haploid (arrhenotokous males) and diploid (thelytokous females) eggs in queenless colonies. In contrast to the congeneric species C. cursor, where new queens are produced by thelytokous parthenogenesis, female sexuals of C. sabulosa result from classical sexual reproduction.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population genetic structure, worker reproduction and thelytokous parthenogenesis in the desert ant Cataglyphis sabulosa

Timmermans¹,

Hefetz

Fournier³

et al. 2008

Heredity

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“…This result requires confirmation, as our sample size was relatively small (N = 19 larvae analysed). To date, worker reproduction by thelytokous parthenogenesis has been shown in a few ant species only, including Pristomyrmex pungens (Itow et al 1984), Cerapachys biroi (Tsuji and Yamauchi, 1995;Ravary and Jaisson, 2004), Platythyrea punctata (Heinze and Hölldobler, 1995), Messor capitatus (Grasso et al, 2000), and both C. cursor (Cagniant, 1980) and C. sabulosa (Timmermans et al, 2008). In the three-first species (P. pungens, C. biroi and P. punctata), queens are rare or even absent, and worker reproduction by thelytoky is obligatory.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mating system and population structure in the desert ant Cataglyphis livida

et al. 2009

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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.

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“…However, in a few rare cases unfertilised workers can produce female (diploid) offspring through the automictic fertilisation of the egg (Moritz and Haberl, 1994), a system normally referred to as thelytokous parthenogenesis. In other social Hymenoptera this system has only been reported in four species of ants (Cagniant, 1979;Itow et al, 1984;Tsuji and Yamauchi, 1995;Heinze and Hölldobler, 1995) and occasionally in queenless Apis mellifera L. colonies (Onions, 1914;Mackensen, 1943). In A. mellifera though (except for Apis mellifera capensis Escholtz) it is thought to be caused by rare meiotic faults.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Usurpation of African Apis mellifera scutellata colonies by parasitic Apis mellifera capensis workers

2002

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-Thelytokous Apis mellifera capensis workers recently brought into regions occupied by the arrkenotokous African bee A. m. scutellata, parasitise these colonies, causing colony death. These capensis workers are genetically almost identical and are referred to as a 'pseudo-clone'. We surveyed 120 scutellata colonies, 27 in detail, at various stages of usurpation by the pseudo-clone. The scutellata queen could co-exist with egg-laying pseudo-clones for 50+ days in one case but disappeared 1-15 days in three other cases. Despite the presence of emerged queen cells no new adult queens of either race were observed in usurped colonies. Only 11 ± 13% of the pseudo-clone population had fully active ovaries, suggesting ovarian development is inhibited in the majority of the pseudo-clones. Only 2.7 ± 1.7% of the foraging force were pseudo-clones. The data were modelled and showed the rapid (56-105 days) growth of the pseudo-clone population and colony death over a wide range of initial conditions. Apis mellifera capensis / pseudo-clone / usurpation / reproduction / Apis mellifera scutellata / honeybee reproduction / South Africa

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Production of females by parthenogenesis in the ant,Cerapachys biroi

Cited by 72 publications

References 13 publications

Population genetic structure, worker reproduction and thelytokous parthenogenesis in the desert ant Cataglyphis sabulosa

Population genetic structure, worker reproduction and thelytokous parthenogenesis in the desert ant Cataglyphis sabulosa

Mating system and population structure in the desert ant Cataglyphis livida

Usurpation of African Apis mellifera scutellata colonies by parasitic Apis mellifera capensis workers

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