CONFLICT AND COOPERATION IN ANT SOCIETIES

We review the different levels of reproductive conflict within ant soc ieties. Workers and queens may disagree about sex allocation and the o rigin of males. Other conflicts arise between queens in multiply queen ed colonies and occasionally also between workers. These conflicts are resolved either by manipulation, such as sexual deception, changed ma ting patterns, or pheromonal signaling, or by physical aggression amon g nestmates. We outline the conditions under which physical aggression occurs and which behaviors are involved in the regulation of reproduc tive dominance.