Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 2 hrs ago
Fire ant gene variant linked to larger workers and future queens
In lab colonies in Georgia, researchers studied red imported fire ants and a gene variant linked to size.
Most female ants become workers, while queens are larger and lay eggs.
A group of more than 500 tightly linked genes, called a supergene, comes in two versions, B and b.
Ants carrying the b version became more common as body weight increased, including among pupae from colonies with several queens.
The result suggests this version may help some ants grow larger and have a better chance of becoming queens.
That matters because queens pass genes to the next generation, which may help explain why the b version spreads despite disadvantages for queens that carry it, such as weighing less and having more trouble starting colonies alone.
A study found that fire ants carrying a particular version of a supergene were more common among heavier workers and future queens.
The researchers studied red imported fire ants in laboratory colonies.
The supergene, a package of more than 500 closely linked genes, has two versions called B and b.
The median weight of worker pupae was about three times higher in colonies given methoprene than in untreated colonies.
The findings may help explain why the b version continues to spread despite drawbacks for ants carrying it.
- Who
- Researchers Haolin “Horace” Zeng and Brendan Hunt of the University of Georgia studied red imported fire ants.
- What
- They examined how a supergene version relates to ant body weight and development.
- When
- The researchers collected colonies in spring 2024. The article was published on November 6, 2026.
- Where
- Colonies were collected in Clarke and Oconee counties, Georgia, and studied in a laboratory.
- Why
- The researchers wanted to understand whether ants carrying the b version responded differently to juvenile hormone and why that version keeps spreading.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The newer supergene version, b, appeared.
The researchers collected single-queen and multiple-queen colonies in Clarke and Oconee counties, Georgia.
The researchers set up queenless laboratory colonies and gave some colonies a meal containing methoprene.
The team collected and weighed worker pupae.
Earth.com published its report on the study.
- Researchers
- Haolin “Horace” Zeng and Brendan Hunt, University of Georgia
- Supergene
- More than 500 closely linked genes
- Supergene versions
- B and b
- Colony size
- About 2,500 workers in each laboratory colony
- Pupae examined
- 1,049 worker pupae and 195 queen pupae from multiple-queen colonies
- Methoprene result
- Median worker-pupa weight was about three times higher in treated colonies than in untreated colonies
What people are saying
We call them supergenes because the genes are tightly linked and inherited together, almost like one big gene.
Among the smallest workers, about half carried the supergene.
If you want to pass down a gene, you’d better become a queen. You don’t want to become a worker.