In species and colonies operating under the gamergate system, where each worker is a potential queen, ants engage in battles to become the sole or one of the few worker-queens capable of laying eggs.
[1][2][3][4][5] Ant societies, being highly structured based on the sex of the individuals and their caste (males, workers, queens), generally see conflicts organized and developed around these aspects.
[4] While these conflicts often occur on an individual level, they are frequently shared by many members of the colonies, leading to broader dynamics.
This is also possible since ant colonies, in some cases, seem to be highly structured with hierarchies and power relationships between the different individuals.
[4] Typically, the queen responds to this conflict by laying a higher ratio of male eggs, while the workers either neglect or, to a lesser extent, cannibalize the male larvae, focusing more on caring for worker larvae.
[4] In studies conducted on colonies exhibiting such behaviors, workers seem to prevail in most cases, although this is not always the rule.
[3] In general, the issue of conflicts within ant communities challenges the notion that they lack individuality.
[3] Indeed, numerous conflicts, which can even escalate to violence and death, demonstrate a form of individuality among ants.