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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
06:44
Induction and Evaluation of Inbreeding Crosses Using the Ant, Vollenhovia Emeryi
Published on: October 5, 2018
Evaluating alternative hypotheses for the early evolution and diversification of ants
Seán G Brady1, Ted R Schultz, Brian L Fisher
1Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA.
Summary
This study resolves ant evolution using extensive DNA data, suggesting a Cretaceous origin (115-135 million years ago) and questioning the traditional poneroid clade. It clarifies relationships within derived ant lineages.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Molecular Phylogenetics
- Entomology
Background:
- Ants (Formicidae) are ecologically dominant eusocial insects, but their early evolution and phylogeny remain debated.
- Conflicting views exist from morphological, molecular, and paleontological studies regarding ant evolutionary history.
- Understanding ant phylogeny is crucial for explaining their ecological success and diversification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To resolve the phylogeny and timescale of major ant lineages using a comprehensive molecular dataset.
- To address conflicting interpretations of early ant evolution and clarify phylogenetic relationships.
- To estimate divergence times for extant ant lineages and infer evolutionary scenarios.
Main Methods:
- Generated the largest ant molecular phylogenetic dataset to date (approx. 6 kb DNA from 162 species).
- Included all 20 ant subfamilies and 10 aculeate outgroup families in the phylogenetic analysis.
- Employed likelihood tests for phylogenetic rooting and incorporated extensive fossil records for divergence time estimation.
Main Results:
- Conflicting ingroup topologies were obtained when analyzing data with and without long-branched outgroups, casting doubt on the defined poneroid clade.
- Several alternative phylogenetic rootings could not be rejected, implying different scenarios for early ant evolution.
- Strong support for relationships within derived formicoid ants, including Aenictogitoninae sister to Dorylus army ants.
- Estimated divergence times for the most recent common ancestor of extant ants between 115-135 million years ago (Cretaceous period).
Conclusions:
- The study provides a robust molecular phylogeny that challenges existing classifications like the poneroid clade.
- Divergence time estimates suggest a Cretaceous, not Jurassic, origin for extant ants.
- The findings offer new insights into the evolutionary pathways of ant morphology and behavior.
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