Parthenogenetic Reproduction in Strumigenys Ants: An Update

Simple Summary Similar to wasps and bees, ants also produce their males by parthenogenesis (development from unfertilized eggs). Much more exceptional is thelytoky, which means that female offspring is also produced by parthenogenesis. This phenomenon to date has been reported for only 16 ant species, including three that belong to the genus Strumigenys: S. hexamera, S. membranifera and S. rogeri. In the present study we discovered that thelytoky also occurs in three more Strumigenys species: S. emmae, S. liukueiensis and S. solifontis. Although queens of these thelytokous Strumigenys species do not need sperm to produce female offspring, they all do contain a functional reproductive system. This includes the presence of a spermatheca, which is the storage organ in which queens store the sperm they receive from the males during the mating flight. We hypothesize that these queens retain a spermatheca for the rare event when they encounter a male and mate with it. In several of these thelytokous Strumigenys species, males are extremely rare but are occasionally produced. Mating with such males considerably increases the genetic variability of the offspring in these thelytokous Strumigenys colonies. Several thelytokous species, such as S. emmae, S. membranifera and S. rogeri, are tramp species. It is obvious that reproduction without the need to mate with males offers these species a big advantage when establishing colonies in new environments. Parthenogenetic reproduction is a common feature for social Hymenoptera, as males typically develop from unfertilized eggs (arrhenotoky). Production of female offspring without the involvement of sperm (thelytoky) also exists but is rather exceptional as it has been reported for only 16 ant species so far. Three of these belong to the genus Strumigenys: S. hexamera, S. membranifera and S. rogeri. Our observations on the reproductive biology in various Oriental Strumigenys species extends this list of thelytokous ants with three more species: S. emmae, S. liukueiensis and S. solifontis. Of these six thelotykous species, S. emmae, S. membranifera and S. rogeri are known as tramp species. Reproduction without the need to fertilize eggs no doubt offers these species a considerable advantage when establishing colonies in new environments. Published histological data on S. hexamera and S. membranifera already showed that the queens possess a functional spermatheca. We now provide evidence that this is also the case for the four other thelytokous Strumigenys species. Retaining a functional spermatheca and reproductive system may keep the queens ready for the exceptional event of mating and hence increase genetic variability, as males do occur very rarely.

Automated summary

Similar to wasps and bees, ants can produce males through parthenogenesis. However, some ant species, including six species in the genus Strumigenys, can also produce females through parthenogenesis. These species retain a functional reproductive system and spermatheca, which allows them to mate with males when encountered, increasing the genetic variability of their offspring. This mode of reproduction gives a significant advantage to tramp species when establishing colonies in new environments.