Ovaries of ant workers: function and significance in colonial life

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K06421
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 45040:Ecology and environment-related
• Research Institution: Kagawa University
• Principal Investigator: ITO Fuminori 香川大学, 農学部, 教授 (50260683)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 卵巣 / 栄養卵

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Based on the dissection of live ants and a literature survey, the number of ovarioles in queens and workers was studied for 550 species of 145 genera in 13 subfamilies. Queens of most species of the poneroid had either six or eight ovarioles as in Auleata wasps and bees, while many species of the queen ants of the formicoid had more than eight ovarioles. On the other hand, some species were reduced to two or four ovarioles. Workers of the poneroid ants had six or eight ovarioles, whereas the majority of species of the formicoid had two ovarioles. Many species were reared and their behaviour was observed, and the presence or absence of trophic eggs and its use was investigated. The ability of male egg production by worker ants was also studied and its relationship with trophic egg production capacity was examined.

Free Research Field

昆虫生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

アリ類の生活史特性を理解する上で重要な形質である卵巣小管数について、広範な種群を対象に多種を調査対象とし、女王アリと働きアリそれぞれの進化的傾向を明らかにした。また、一般に不妊である働きアリが卵巣を保持することの意義のひとつとして栄養卵生産の重要性を指摘した。餌の利用様式とともに、コロニー内での栄養配分様式の多様性が、アリ類が陸上生態系の様々な場所で成功した要因の一つである可能性が示された。