Leafcutter Ant Queen (IMAGE)

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Leafcutter Ant Queen

Caption

Leafcutter ant queens store sperm for several decades, slowly fertilizing eggs to create colonies of millions of worker-daughters. After mating with multiple males, they can halt sperm competition within their own bodies using fluid from their sperm-storage organ.

Credit

Miriam Arrueta, STRI

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Credit: STRI

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