This is different. The queen is fertilized by another species, but can only have males of that species with a portion of her own genetic information. When she’s fertilized by her own species, she can produce Queens, haploid workers, and male drones of her species.
There’s a species of ant that lays eggs of a different species of ant.
What the fuck?
Valid reaction
I admire this guy’s dropping an ant fact like this and then refusing to elaborate
I’m busy playing boardgames. And it was a fact. Mission accomplished.
I need more information
I think they’re referring to this species. Although the cloning aspect adds yet another layer of wtf on top.
Ant queen lays eggs that hatch into two species
Cloning is fairly common. Like aphids will clone during spring and summer and then do sex in autumn.
This is different. The queen is fertilized by another species, but can only have males of that species with a portion of her own genetic information. When she’s fertilized by her own species, she can produce Queens, haploid workers, and male drones of her species.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messor_ibericus