Ants

Ants are known for working together, operating as a unit for the good of the colony. But not so fast, say researchers from the Universities of Leeds and Copenhagen. It turns out that ants can scheme like a stage mom. 1 say that some ants hide out to ensure that their offspring become child-bearing queens instead of barren workers. The 2 hypothesis had been that random ants were fed certain foods that would allow them to develop into queens. But DNA tests on five 3 of leaf-cutting ants 4 that certain males have a better genetic chance of producing royal progeny.Scientists believe these rare males stay anonymous, and thus avoid any problems with other ants that might otherwise lose their "one-for-all, all-for-one" attitude. In fact, the number of males 5 royal genes to those who aren't may have settled at a low ratio through 6 —which cobbled together the best way for the ant gene pool to expand, while at the same time keeping the lucky males hidden from their possibly jealous rivals.