Male-polyphenism
Guides
Cardiocondyla obscurior
Arboreal Sneaking Ant
Cardiocondyla obscurior is a small myrmicine ant with Indomalayan origins that has achieved cosmopolitan distribution as a tramp species. It exhibits distinctive reproductive traits including male polyphenism with both winged and wingless male morphs, and a unique aging strategy termed 'continuusparity' where queens maintain continuous reproduction with a fitness peak late in life. The species is primarily arboreal, nesting in plant cavities of low vegetation, and has been introduced to numerous regions including the Americas, Europe, and Asia.