In biology, polymorphism, according to the Oxford English Dictionary is the "occurrence of different forms among the members of a population or colony, or in the life cycle of an individual organism."
Ants exhibit a range of polymorphisms. There is the characteristic haplodiploid sex determination system; all males are haploid (having a single set of unpaired chromosomes); and all females diploid (containing two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent).
There is also differentiation of size, physical characteristics and duties amongst workers. 'Kinds' don't always have 'kinds'!
Major workers, sometimes known as soldiers, have disproportionately large heads, stronger mandibles and are typically larger overall. These ants often specialise in nest defence, seed cracking, large object transportation, etc.
The role of a worker ant will often change with age. For example, young workers will stay underground and tender the larvae, middle-aged workers might be responsible for nest construction and the older workers will carry out foraging duties.
The Pheidologeton genus of ant is perhaps the best example of polymorphism in the worker, where the major workers are 500 times larger than the minor workers.
Image Copyright© hugo D.
Tags: Morphology & Physiology | Pheidologeton
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