This ant species is composed of only queens — no workers or males
Nature
February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Scientists have discovered an ant species, *Temnothorax kinomurai*, composed entirely of queens with no workers or males. This unique species survives by parasitizing related ant species, invading their nests, and co-opting their workers to maintain its colony. Unlike typical ants, where queens rely on worker ants for nest maintenance and food gathering, *T. kinomurai* queens take over the labor force of other species, enabling them to thrive without a traditional social structure.
The parasitic behavior of *T. kinomurai* involves the queen infiltrating the nests of related ant species, such as *Temnothorax makora*. Once inside, the queen exerts control over the host colony, using its workers for tasks like nest maintenance and caring for her offspring. This strategy allows *T. kinomurai* to reproduce asexually, further simplifying their life cycle by eliminating the need for males.
This discovery is significant in evolutionary biology as it highlights how social insects can adapt to survive without traditional roles like worker ants or males. The study of parasitic ants like *
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Originally published on Nature on 2/25/2026