Scientists found an ant which gives birth to two species

In harvester ant colonies, reproduction follows a clear structure — female queens give birth to offspring, male drones provide sperm, while sterile female workers take charge of nest building, childcare, and other responsibilities.

A study led by Romiguier and colleagues has revealed an unusual twist in this system. The researchers discovered that all workers of the species Messor ibericus were hybrids, with nearly half of their DNA matching that of Messor structor.

Hybridisation in Ants Not Uncommon
Such cross-species mating is not unprecedented among ants. In several species, queens are known to mate with males of other species, producing hybrid workers.

A Unique Mediterranean Puzzle
What surprised scientists, however, was the fact that Messor ibericus colonies were thriving in several Mediterranean regions where no Messor structor colonies exist. This raises new questions about the evolutionary mechanisms and reproductive strategies behind such large-scale hybridisation.

Scientists suggest that Messor ibericus queens are giving birth to two different species by cloning the Messor structor males’ genetic material from sperm stored in a specialised organ called a spermatheca. The resulting eggs do not consist of Messor ibericus DNA, except for the mitochondrial DNA, which is absent in sperm

(Source: IE)