Worker's age regulates the linear dominance hierarchy in the queenless ponerine ant, Pachycondyla sublaevis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

A study of the Australian queenless ponerine ant, Pachcondyla sublaevis, reveals a well-defined dominance hierarchy where the top-rank worker is inseminated. The order of dominance is related to the age of the workers, with young workers occupying the top positions. This kind of hierarchy relates to intra-colored competition for reproduction. The frequency of dominance is low in small colonies, increasing exponentially with the size of the colonies.