Behavioral property of unusual large workers in the ant,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Pristomyrmex pungens</Emphasis>

We surveyed the behavioral properties of unusual large workers in the parthenogenetic queenless ant, Pristomyrmex pungens. The majority of colonies mostly consist of monomorphic workers, which have two ovarioles (small workers). Large workers with four ovarioles are occasionally found in some colonies. We compared the behavior of small and large workers. Large workers performed brood care less frequently than small workers and almost never foraged. We set out three hypotheses of the adaptive significance of large workers: they are (1) reproductive castes, that is, functionally defined queens, (2) major workers, such as soldiers, and (3) of a socially parasitic lineage. Electronic Publication