Polygyny, Inbreeding, and Wingless Males in the Malagasy Ant Cardiocondyla shuckardi Forel (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Abstract

The ant genus Cardiocondyla exhibits a fascinating diversity of its reproductive biology, with winged and wingless males, long-winged and short-winged queens, strict monogyny and facultative polygyny with or without queen fighting. Here we report on the previously unstudied Malagasy ant C. shuckardi. We describe the nesting habits, male morphology and colony structure of this species. Furthermore, based on the genotypes from three microsatellite loci we document a very high incidence of sib-mating.

Keywords

• inbreeding
• reproductive tactics
• ergatoid males
• colony structure
• Madagascar