Annals of the Entomological Society of America (1999) 92, 563-570

M.A.D. Goodisman, P.D. Mack, D.E. Pearse and K.G. Ross (1999)
Effects of a single gene on worker and male body mass in the fire ant Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera : Formicidae)
Annals of the Entomological Society of America 92 (4), 563-570
Abstract: This study examines the effects of general-protein-9 (Gp-9) genotype on the body mass of polygyne (multiple-queens per nest) Solenopsis invicta Buren workers and males. We found that Gp-9 genotype was significantly associated with variation in worker mass in field but not laboratory colonies. Moreover, triploid workers with 2 distinguishable genotypes (Gp-9^BBb and Gp-9^Bbb) weighed significantly more than diploid workers with the heterozygous genotype (Gp-9^Bb). Our results, combined with those obtained from previous studies, indicate that Gp-9 genotype, ploidy, social form, and colony queen number affect mass of S. invicta workers. We also discovered that Gp-9 genotype significantly influenced the mass of haploid males reared in both field and laboratory environments. As a group, polygyne males were significantly lighter than monogyne males, even when Gp-9 genotype was taken into account, indicating that social environment interacts with Gp-9 genotype to influence male mass. Given that diploid males previously have been shown to be lighter than haploid males, 3 factors (Gp-9 genotype, social form, and ploidy) are now known to affect the mass of male fire ants.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Solenopsis invicta