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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Collection and Long-Term Maintenance of Leaf-Cutting Ants Atta in Laboratory Conditions
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Inter-Caste Comparison Reveals a Unique Bioenergetic Signature in Long-Lived Ant Queens.

Maïly Kervella1,2,3, Fabrice Bertile1,2, Alexandra Granger-Farbos4

  • 1CNRS UMR 7178, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Strasbourg, France.

Molecular Ecology
|October 10, 2025
PubMed
Summary

In black garden ants, long-lived queens have lower metabolic rates and mitochondrial density but higher energy availability, challenging oxidative stress theories of aging. This suggests unique bioenergetic adaptations contribute to their extended lifespan.

Keywords:
calorimetrymetabolismmitochondriaoxidative stress theory of ageingpurine pathwaysocial insectssomatic maintenance

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Insect Physiology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Eusocial insects exhibit caste-dependent lifespan differences, with queens living significantly longer than workers.
  • Aging theories often link longevity to metabolism and oxidative stress, particularly mitochondrial function.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for explaining lifespan disparities within species.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate caste-specific differences in mitochondrial bioenergetics and oxidative balance in the black garden ant (Lasius niger).
  • To test predictions of oxidative stress theory regarding longevity and metabolic rate in insect social castes.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of mitochondrial bioenergetics between queens and workers.
  • Assessment of oxidative balance and cellular energy availability (adenylate energy charge).
  • Examination of potential roles for mitochondrial maintenance and purine salvage pathways.

Main Results:

  • Queens showed lower metabolic rates and mitochondrial density compared to workers.
  • Despite lower mitochondrial density, queens maintained higher cellular energy availability (adenylate energy charge).
  • Findings partially align with, but also challenge, predictions of oxidative stress theory.

Conclusions:

  • Queens' extended lifespan may be supported by enhanced mitochondrial maintenance and purine salvage pathways.
  • These adaptations promote ATP availability while minimizing oxidative stress.
  • The study reveals novel bioenergetic strategies contributing to queen longevity in Lasius niger.