Affiliation:
1. Universität Regensburg Zoologie/Evolutionsbiologie , , 93053 Regensburg , Germany
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Juvenile hormone is considered to be a master regulator of polyphenism in social insects. In the ant Cardiocondyla obscurior, whether a female egg develops into a queen or a worker is determined maternally and caste-specific differentiation occurs in embryos, so that queens and workers can be distinguished in a non-invasive manner from late embryogenesis onwards. This ant also exhibits two male morphs – winged and wingless males. Here, we used topical treatment with juvenile hormone III and its synthetic analogue methoprene, a method that influences caste determination and differentiation in some ant species, to investigate whether hormone manipulation affects the development and growth of male, queen- and worker-destined embryos and larvae. We found no effect of hormone treatment on female caste ratios or body sizes in any of the treated stages, even though individuals reacted to heightened hormone availability with increased expression of krüppel-homolog 1, a conserved JH first-response gene. In contrast, hormone treatment resulted in the emergence of significantly larger males, although male morph fate was not affected. These results show that in C. obscurior, maternal caste determination leads to irreversible and highly canalized caste-specific development and growth.
Funder
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst
University of Regensburg
Publisher
The Company of Biologists
Cited by
2 articles.
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1. There's more than one way to make an ant queen;Journal of Experimental Biology;2024-06-15
2. ECR Spotlight – Jeanne Brülhart;Journal of Experimental Biology;2024-06-15