Alternative reproductive strategies of the hybrid imported fire ant: Multiple insemination or variation in male ploidy

Authors: CROSS, DAVID - Mississippi State University; GARLAPATI, RAJESH - Mississippi State University; TANG, JULIET - Mississippi State University; Chen, Jian; CAPRIO, MICHAEL - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/26/2008
Publication Date: 5/26/2008
Citation: Cross, D., Rajesh, R.B., Tang, J.D., Chen, J., and Caprio, M.A. 2008. Alternative reproductive strategies of the hybrid imported fire ant: Multiple insemination or variation in male ploidy. Proceedings of Annual Red Imported Fire Ant Conference. Charleston, South Carolina, March 24-27, 2008. pp. 99-103. Cross, D., Rajesh, R.B., Tang, J.D., Chen, J., and Caprio, M.A. 2008. Alternative reproductive strategies of the hybrid imported fire ant: Multiple insemination or variation in male ploidy. Proceedings of Annual Red Imported Fire Ant Conference. Charleston, South Carolina, March 24-27, 2008. pp. 99-103.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In this study we used microsatellite variable repeat regions and other molecular markers to indicate multiple insemination of a HIFA queen in a polygyne mound. By genotyping the mound’s queens and the contribution of sperm found in their spermathecae, we found unexpectedly high numbers of alleles for specific loci. We also show that newly inseminated queens of both social forms sometimes contain sperm with a higher than expected number of alleles for these loci, suggesting that this is not an isolated case for polyandry, but may happen with regular frequency.