---
title: 'Queen Ant Clones Another Species'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=NXhKuMQRAZ4'
video_id: 'NXhKuMQRAZ4'
date: 2026-08-28
duration_sec: 69
channel: 'Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell'
---

# Queen Ant Clones Another Species

> Source: [Queen Ant Clones Another Species](https://youtube.com/watch?v=NXhKuMQRAZ4)

## Summary

This video explores the extraordinary reproductive strategy of the Iberian harvester ant, whose queen must mate with a different species, Messor structor, to maintain her colony. The queen stores the alien sperm and uses it to produce hybrid workers and male clones, while using her own species' sperm to create new queens. This dual genetic line strategy is crucial for the colony's survival and expansion.

### Key Points

- **The Queen's Unusual Mating** [00:02] — Iberian harvester ant colonies appear ordinary, but the queen requires sperm from a different species, Messor structor, to function.
- **Storing Alien Sperm** [00:16] — After mating, the queen stores the alien sperm inside her body. When producing male clones, the sperm enters an egg, but she removes her own genes from the mix.
- **Producing Hybrid Workers** [00:30] — The queen can also mix genes from both species to produce sterile female workers, ensuring the colony's labor force.
- **Ensuring Colony Survival** [00:30] — To ensure the survival of the colony, she can use stored sperm from her own kind to produce new queens.
- **Two Genetic Lines** [00:45] — This strategy of having two genetic lines is crucial: one line produces Iberian harvester queens and males, the other produces hybrid workers and male Messor structor clones as mates for future queens.
- **Colony Expansion** [00:57] — By maintaining an in-nest supply of cloned males, future queens no longer need to find this species in the wild, allowing new colonies to spread into new territories.

### Conclusion

The Iberian harvester ant's dual genetic line strategy is one of the most complex and weird forms of colonial life, enabling survival and expansion without external dependence.

## Transcript

another species. Iberian harvester ant colonies may look ordinary with queens, workers, and males, but to keep it all ticking, the queen needs sperm from a different species, Messor structor. After mating, the alien sperm is stored
inside her body. When producing male clones, the sperm enters one of her eggs, but she removes her genes from the mix. She can also mix genes from both species, producing sterile female workers. And to ensure the survival of
colony, she can use stored sperm from her own kind to produce new queens. This strategy of having two genetic lines is crucial to this ant's survival. One line produces Iberian harvester queens and males. The other produces hybrid workers
as well as male Messor structor ant clones as mates for future queens. By maintaining an in-nest supply of cloned males, future queens no longer need to count on finding this species in the
wild. New colonies can spread into new territories, boldly going wherever they can survive. All this makes them one of the most complex and weird forms of the most complex and weird forms of colonial life we know.