Posted on 04/18/2009 1:12:18 AM PDT by JoeProBono
This leaf-cutter ant species is all female and thrives without sex of any kind—ever—according to a new study. The ants have evolved to reproduce only when queens clone themselves.
"They appear to have evolved a new mode of reproduction, and the genetic mechanisms have yet to be worked out," said lead study author Anna Himler, a research associate at the University of Arizona.
In M. smithii the typical muscular reproductive organ of female ants has evolved into a "sort of a ghost of an organ at this point," Himler added.
No male of the species has ever been found, and "even if a male were theoretically to appear somewhere, we're not sure they could mate any more," she said.
Other ants, such as fire ants, that can reproduce asexually have working sexual organs, just in case.
M. smithii also has an idiosyncratic arrangement for that other apparent necessity: food. The ants, which range from northern Mexico to Argentina, are in a codependent relationship with a specific fungus.
"The fungus garden is quite wimpy," Himler said. "If you remove the ants, the gardens will quickly die."
The ants keep the gardens weeded, and they "feed" the fungus leaf bits, insect carcasses, and feces, which the ants clean and cut up before offering to the fungus. In return, the fungus provides the sole source of food for the ants' babies.
I’m so sorry for the females ants.
Maybe this is what the Muzzies get when they die. Virgin female ants.
Yes, the manipulation is that “they don’t need a male.”
‘Projection’ on the part of libs at NatGeo.
It seems they draw a lot of conclusions on what they have not yet found.
Yes the writer is likely a wannabe butch lesbian who wants all women to F**K themselves.
Women and men should F**K each other. (I do not believe in beating around the bush.)
The politicization of sex is almost so compltere sex is redundant as a personal activity between men and women.Sex has become a way to exercise power.There is obviously little joy in it for liberals.
Thats why conservatve lovers have the libes beat hand down in that category, They knnow where toput it and what to do with it. Can't say the same for lefties and libs these days. They get off on ants.
“I do not believe in beating around the bush”
hehe.
Can’t say they have very much fun.
Nice one, Joe! Michelle will just be fed by the female ants. Does Obama get eaten?
That’s one big ass ant!
But then, it does say they’re all female...
(Joke folks! Lighten up!)
antie MO?
They must actually be hermaphroditic, not all female.
I was going to suggest they be named after her or janet reno.
Maybe there IS a male... but he spends his days and nights in a room with a circular bed, mood music, dim lights and a bottle of wine. That’s why they can’t find him.
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