Summary
Most matureMyrmica rubra, M. ruginodis, M. schencki andM. sulcinodis queens lay some trophic eggs in addition to reproductive eggs whether reared alone or attended by workers, and regardless of season. Queen trophic eggs resemble those laid by workers. They are oval, slightly flaccid, opalescent and contain no embryo, and inM. rubra andM. schencki they are significantly smaller than reproductive eggs. Generally, queens lay their first trophic eggs later in the season than their first reproductive eggs.
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Wardlaw, J.C., Elmes, G.W. Trophic eggs laid by fertileMyrmica queens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Ins. Soc 42, 303–308 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01240424
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01240424