Archive · 18 Sep 2025
Ant Queens Give Birth to Two Species: Unique Discovery
Scientists have found a type of ant where the queen does something unusual!
Usually, baby ants are the same species as their mom.
But these queens, Messor ibericus, can have babies that are a different kind of ant, Messor structor.
The queens make hybrid worker ants and Messor structor males.
This is because the queen clones the males’ DNA.
About 10% of eggs are entirely Messor structor!
These ants use sperm stored by the queen to make their new offspring.
This unusual ability lets the queen ants make worker ants, new queen ants, and Messor structor males, all to continue their family lines.
Researchers discovered a unique ant species producing two different offspring species.
The study was published in the journal Nature.
Messor ibericus queens produce both Messor ibericus and Messor structor offspring.
Hybrid Messor ibericus/structors and new Messor structor males are produced.
Queens clone male DNA from sperm stored to create new offspring.
- Who
- Scientists led by Jonathan Romiguier
- What
- Discovered Messor ibericus ant queens can give birth to two different ant species.
- When
- Published in early June 2024
- Where
- Mediterranean region
- Why
- To understand unusual hybridisation in ant colonies.
- Ant Species
- Messor ibericus (queen) & Messor structor (male)
- Research Publication
- Journal Nature
- Lead Researcher
- Jonathan Romiguier
- Main Finding
- Queens produce both Messor ibericus and Messor structor offspring
- Offspring
- Hybrid workers and Messor structor drones
- Process
- Queens clone Messor structor males using stored sperm.