cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/7777980

A new study has now provided the first proof of an ant species that lacks both workers and males and consists exclusively of queens.

💅💅💅💅

  • piranhaconda@mander.xyz
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    6 hours ago

    “Now, the latest study shows that on top of killing the host queen, T kinomurai also reproduces asexually by producing clones of itself, and tricks the surviving host workers into rearing the offspring.”

    So do the clones then convince the workers to kill the original clone? Repeat until the colony falls apart because workers aren’t being produced?

    • tristynalxander@mander.xyz
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      3 hours ago

      I don’t know. I think queens have wings, so I presumed they flew off to kill a new ant nest, but maybe they split the nest or maybe there is some in-fighting. A good question for ant-biologists.