Courtship with two spoons-Anatomy and presumed function of the bizarre antennae of Cardiocondyla zoserka ant males.

ABSTRACT: Mating in ants often occurs on the wing during nuptial flights or on the ground when scattered female sexuals attract males by pheromones. In both scenarios, there is little opportunity for males to engage in prolonged aggressive competition or elaborate courtship displays. Male morphology is therefore adapted to locating female sexuals and mating, and it lacks specific weapons or other traits associated with courtship. In contrast, sexuals of the ant genus Cardiocondyla typically mate in their natal nests. As a consequence, in many species winged males have been replaced by wingless fighter or territorial males, which kill or expel rival males with their strong mandibles and show complex mating behavior. However, no wingless males are known from Cardiocondyla zoserka from We

SUBMITTER: Heinze J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8216964 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature