Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The number of queens: An important trait in ant evolution

  • Published:
Naturwissenschaften Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The pervasive social and ecological differences between ant colonies that have a single queen and those that have multiple queens are defined. The evolutionary tendencies which lead to polygyny and the adaptive significance of multiple queens are examined. The discussion of the ecological consequences of polygyny and monogyny leads to a deeper understanding of territoriality, spacing and species packing in ants.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Reuter, O.M.: Lebensgewohnheiten und Instinkte der Insekten bis zum Erwachen der sozialen Instikte. Berlin: R. Friedländer u. Sohn 1913

    Google Scholar 

  2. Wasmann, E.: Biol. Centralbl. 30, 453 (1910). See also Wheeler, W.M.: Colony-founding among ants. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press 1933

    Google Scholar 

  3. Wilson, E.O.: The insect societies. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard Univ. Press 1971

    Google Scholar 

  4. Buschinger, A., in: Sozialpolymorphismus bei Insekten (Schmidt, G., ed.). Stuttgart: Wissenschaftliche Verlagsges. 1974

    Google Scholar 

  5. Elmes, G.W.: J. Animal Ecol. 35, 761 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Wilson, E.O.: Ann. Entomol. Soc. Amer. 67, 781 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Evans, H.E., West Eberhard, M.J.: The wasps. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Univ. of Michigan Press 1970

    Google Scholar 

  8. Spradbery, J.P.: Wasps. London: Sidgwick & Jackson 1973

    Google Scholar 

  9. Waloff, N.: Insectes Sociaux 4, 391 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Wilson, E.O.: Symp. Roy. Entomol. Soc. London 3, 81 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hölldobler, B., Bry, W.: unpublished observations

  12. Wilson, E.O., Hunt, G.L.: Ecology 47, 485 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Talbot, M.: Ann. Entomol. Soc. Amer. 44, 302 (1951)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Talbot, M.: Ecology 24, 31 (1943); 29, 316 (1948); 38, 449 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Talbot, M.: Ann. Entomol. Soc. Amer. 38, 365 (1945)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Headley, A.E.: ibid 36, 743 (1943); 42, 265 (1949)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Markin, G.P., et al.: ibid 66, 803 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Buschinger, A.: Insectes Sociaux 15, 217 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Hölldobler, B.: Z. Angew. Entomol. 49, 337 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Janzen, D.H.: J. Animal Ecol. 42, 727 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Brian, M.V., Brian, A.D.: Evolution 10, 280 (1955)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Scherba, G.: J. N.Y. Entomol. Soc. 69, 71 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Nickerson, J.C. et al.: Ann. Entomol. Soc. Amer. 68, 1083 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Michener, C.D.: The social behavior of the bees. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard Univ. Press 1974

    Google Scholar 

  25. Bell, W.J.: J. Comp. Physiol. 93, 195 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Barrows, E.M., Bell, W.J., Michener, C.D.: Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 72, 2824 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Smith, M.R.: Circular U.S. Dept. Agriculture 387, 1 (1936)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Way, M.J.: Bull. Entomol. Res. 44, 669 (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Levins, R., Pressick, M.L., Heatwole, H.: Amer. Scientist 61, 463 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Scherba, G.: J. N.Y. Entomol. Soc. 72, 231 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Pisarski, B.: Ekologia Polska 20, 111 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Whittaker, R.H.: Taxon 21, 213 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  33. MacArthur, R.H.: Geographical ecology. New York: Harper & Row 1972

    Google Scholar 

  34. Carroll, C.R., Janzen, D.H.: Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 4, 231 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Hölldobler, B.: Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 1, 3 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Murray, B.G.: Ecology 52, 414 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology Laboratories, Harvard University, 02138, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

    Bert Hölldobler & Edward O. Wilson

Authors
  1. Bert Hölldobler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Edward O. Wilson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Dedicated to Professor Dr. Karl von Frisch on the occasion of his 90th birthday

The preparation of this article, and some of original research reported in it, has been supported by National Science Foundation Grants Nos. BMS75-06447 and BNS73-00889.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hölldobler, B., Wilson, E.O. The number of queens: An important trait in ant evolution. Naturwissenschaften 64, 8–15 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00439886

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00439886

Keywords

Search

Navigation