A small queen ant can result from a recently discovered genetic factor related to colony structure. Here's a breakdown:
Researchers have identified a "supergene" responsible for determining whether ant colonies have one queen (monogyne) or multiple queens (polygyne). They also found a separate supergene impacting ant size. When both supergenes are present, they can lead to the production of additional queens that are significantly smaller (approximately 20%) than typical, single-queen colony queens.
In essence, the small size of your queen ant is likely due to a genetic predisposition associated with multi-queen colony formation.
