Task allocation depends on matriline in the ponerine ant Gnamptogenys striatula mayr

Matriline and the predominant social tasks performed by workers are correla ted in the functionally polygynous ponerine ant Gnamptogenys striatula. Thi s result favors the idea that polygyny might have been secondarily selected and maintained in ants because it provided more genetic variability and, t hus, more potential variation in the regulation of the division of labor wi thin mutualistic societies. As in previous studies on ants, nepotism could nor be demonstrated, Because of the relatively small number of individuals per colony, these ponerine ants constitute a valuable model for exploring h ow polyethism is determined in insect societies.