Conflict and Cooperation in Ant Societies

Abstract

We review the different levels of reproductive conflict within ant societies. Workers and queens may disagree about sex allocation and the origin of males. Other conflicts arise between queens in multiply queened colonies and occasionally also between workers. These conflicts are resolved either by manipulation, such as sexual deception, changed mating patterns, or pheromonal signaling, or by physical aggression among nestmates. We outline the conditions under which physical aggression occurs and which behaviors are involved in the regulation of reproductive dominance.