Differences in worker size and mound distribution in monogynous and polygynous colonies of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren
Differences in worker size and mound distribution in monogynous and polygynous colonies of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren
Greenberg, L.; Fletcher, DJC.; Vinson, SB.
Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 581: 9-18
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-8567
DOI: 10.2307/25084596
Polygyny in fire ants had 2 overt manifestations in field colonies: workers from polygynous colonies were significantly smaller than those from monogynous colonies; and 2 transects through fields containing both types of colonies showed that closely spaced polygnous colonies were contiguous with more dispersed monogynous mounds. A simple method is presented for predicting whether a field colony is monogynous or polygynous and the possible origins of polygyny in this species is discussed.