Polygyny

Definition

The existence of more than one egg-producing queen in a single colony.

Etymology

From Greek 'poly-', meaning 'many', and 'gynē', meaning 'woman' or 'female'.

Example

Polygyny is common in many social insect species, such as ants and some bees.

Related Terms

• Queen
• Colony
• Social insects

Usage Notes

There are two types of polygyny: primary and secondary. Primary polygyny occurs when multiple queens form a colony simultaneously, while secondary polygyny occurs when supplementary queens are added after the colony is founded.