Unicoloniality

Unicoloniality is used to define ants that form super-colonies that are created when queens and workers move freely between physically separate nests of conspecifics1. It is hypothesized that unicolonial ants deal less with territorial costs and are capable of increasing their worker densities2. This enables unicolonial ants to become the perfect invasive species because they have the power of numbers, less territorial costs, and over time decreased intra-specific aggression.

One particular ant species is focused on when researching about the social evolution of unicoloniality and its impact on genetics. The Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) forms supercolonies when invading other territories and have decreased intra-specific aggression. 2 It is able to out compete native ants and is a growing problem as it has become a widespread invasive.

Refrences:

1Jackson, Duncan E. "Social Evolution: Pathways to Ant Unicoloniality."Current Biology 17.24 (2007): R1063-1064. Web.

2Tsutsui, N. D. "Reduced Genetic Variation and the Success of an Invasive Species." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 97.11 (2000): 5948-953. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.