In pleometrosis, several ant queens or queens of other social hymenopterans (and, very rarely, termites) establish a colony together. They lay eggs jointly and also care for the brood together. Although pleometrotic foundation is known in a number of species, it is relatively uncommon in nature. Pleometrosis is often, but not always, associated with several fertile, egg-laying reproductive individuals in a colony (polygyny). The opposite condition, in which a queen establishes a new colony alone and independently of other queens, is called haplometrosis (or haplometrosis).

Back to Glossary Back to Term