Discovery of independent-founding solitary queens in the yellow crazy ant Anoplolepis gracilipes in East Java, Indonesia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

摘要

We collected four solitary queens of the invasive ant Anoplolepis gracilipes under stones in East Java, Indonesia. They produced nanitic workers by claustral colony foundation. This is the first report of independent colony foundation by queens in this species. The discovery may give an important insight into discussion on the origin of this invasive ant.