Asexual Ants: An Evolutionary Mystery
October 17th, 2009 Posted in Ants & RoachesWe’ve all heard the story of the birds and the bees, but what’s the story without either the bird or the bee?
A particular species of ant has gotten around this classic tale’s moral and has thrived as an asexual species. Only made up of females, this species is able reproduce without a partner.
This is an evolutionary mystery, occurring very rarely in the scientific community.
This article will tell you about:
The Discovery of the Asexual Ant
Discovered by biology professor Ulrich Mueller and graduate student Christian Rabelin, the Mycocepurus smithii species of ant has caused an immediate buzz in the science world. The ants were discovered to be living in Northern Mexico, Central American, and Brazil.
The ants are the first known species of ants to reproduce asexually, without having males as a part of their genetic pool. Most species of insects don’t mate one-on-one male to female, but there is mating between the queen ants and male ants.
In this circumstance, the queen ant has all female ants and raises the amount of reproductive offspring from 50% to 100%. Thus, every ant she births is able to reproduce and subsequently increase the chances of their species survival and increase the amount of ant colonies created.They also don’t rely on a mating season like other insects and accordingly, save time in their life cycles to perform other tasks for the colony.
The Genetic Explanation
The two main advantages of sexual reproduction are the elimination of gene mutations and overall faster evolution of the species. Apparently, these ants have avoided genetic problems and have evolved from once being able to reproduce sexually.
After an examination by scientists, they believe that ants born from the queen are her clones. From looking at the ants DNA, it is identical to that of the mother that birthed them. There is also evidence of degenerated mating apparatuses in their bodies, showing that they’ve once evolved from being able to reproduce sexually.
This proves that this species has been asexual for a very long time. However, scientists are currently unable to precisely determine just how long ago they’ve been this way. They also searched these ant’s bodies for any sign of sperm or sperm cells, but with no success.
The Rarity of Asexual Behavior
For years, sexual reproduction was believed to be absolutely necessary for diversification of an evolutionary species, but until recently scientists have questioned what they thought they knew. Over the years there has been a select few that reproduce asexually, of this small group many species have died out due to lack of genetic diversity in their gene pool.
Thus, scientists came to the conclusion that asexuality within a species can not keep that species thriving forever. Yet, this species of ant and the bdelloid rotifer, a microscopic organism, have successfully continued on unaffected by this theory.
The bdelloid rotifer has not had sex for around 100 million years and has survived successfully as an asexual species. Apparently an advocate of abstinence, this rotifer is clear example of how far the asexual ant’s streak of celibacy could possibly go.
If you want to have your part in hampering an ant’s sexual or asexual life, than use EcoSMART’s organic ant and roach killer for all your household pest needs.
27 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers!
By melinda yount on Oct 23, 2009
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By Ashley on Oct 23, 2009
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Your product just may be the cure I need.
By Emma on Oct 23, 2009
I hate ants especially at picnics, they crawl everywhere! Help!!
By Brandon Ryan on Oct 23, 2009
Will your product work on Fire Ants that we have in the south? We live in Arkansas and these things are everywhere during the summer! We also have plenty of wolf-spiders that come in and crawl around the floors for the cats to play with. Can your product harm pets?
By Joann Belcher on Oct 23, 2009
Where I once had black ants that invaded my house, now I have red ants. I spray but they keep coming back. Hopefully your spray will work.
By Julie on Oct 24, 2009
I get carpenter ants every October, like (I almost typed LICE) clockwork, on the same day every year. Unfortunately, I had to call in the big guns, i.e., the exterminator.
By Darline on Oct 24, 2009
I have tried everything for the ants outside. Nothing will kill them and make them stay away. They always build a anthill right behind my car and I step in them a lot of times. Please, if this works, send it to me to try???
I will try it and hope it works. I am tired of not being able to walk in my yard from all the huge ant hills.
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By Pamela K. White on Oct 24, 2009
We have a big problem with ants in our home. We have tried so many products, but to no avail. They somehow seem to magically reproduce and seem to become immune to whatever product we are using at the moment.
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i have a problem with roaches and ants. i also have indoor pets and kids. i would love to try a product that we could try that would also be safe for everyone. we also have a flea problem. no matter what we try, there’s always some sort of toxcity.
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Ants have been an enemy of mine for quite some time. I’m afraid of the sprays because of my animals as well as my family and I. They seem to appear out of thin air at times, even now in the cold weather we’ve been having I just encountered a grouping today on my counter. I have no idea what they were attracted to, what do they want?
We had trees cut down in the summer, carpenter ants had ate them up. Wish I had a solution for them as well.
By jeffrey pack on Oct 25, 2009
i live in south caroline an fire ant have took over my yard i have tried numerous products but nothing seems to work they will move from one spot to another i am tired of just chasing them if you have a product that work please let me see it
By Tricia on Oct 25, 2009
I hate ants. We seem to have a VERY bad problem with ants at our new home. It seems we have built our home on an enormouse ant hill (it’s gotta be the only explanation).I would love to try your product to organically and safely get rid of these invading creatures.
By Darcey Moyer on Oct 25, 2009
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By Heather P on Oct 25, 2009
I too would like to know if your products work on fire ants. I found several mounds of them behind my property line and want to eliminate them before they make it to my house! Interesting and gross article:)
By Diane on Oct 25, 2009
This article was very interesting. We have ants at least once a year. They seek water and it seems to take weeks to get rid of them. How fast does your product work?
By D on Oct 25, 2009
Ants are awful! This website gives good info.
By Arlene Baker on Oct 25, 2009
I see alot of talk about ants..but I’m battling roaches. I’ve used the best of the best store bough baits and they did work for quite some time, and they got immune, I guess cause it’s back to the same old problem. Then I purchased “commercial grade” roach killer, again worked a month or so..and back to the same problem. I had them whipped til a new neighbor moved in and I’m seeming to have to deal w/ it again. Please tell me you have something that will work on roaches and no harmful to my cat, who gets into everything.
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By brenda on Oct 25, 2009
We always get ant hills in our yard. Each year they get closer to the house. We have tried everything to kill them.
By Robin Powell on Oct 26, 2009
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By Amanda on Oct 26, 2009
It’s amazing how different animals change. It’s an endless wonder.
By Darin Wiseman on Oct 26, 2009
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By Mary Lanphier on Oct 26, 2009
I live in Florida and have a severe problem with ants, regular and fire ants. I’ve tried almost everything Walmart has to offer. It may work for a little while but then they come back, worse than before. HELP!
By Patricia on Oct 27, 2009
I live in North Carolina. At our house we have a problem with silverfish. We have tried everything that claims to work but the products are not working. Can you help.
By Crystal Allen on Nov 8, 2009
i didn’t not know this. interesting article. thanks