Thegyne (/ˈɡaɪn/, from Greek γυνή, "woman") is the primary reproductive femalecaste ofsocial insects (especiallyants,wasps, andbees of orderHymenoptera, as well astermites). Gynes are those destined to becomequeens, whereas female workers are typically barren and cannot become queens. Having a queen is what makes a "queenright" hive, nest, or colony ofeusocial insects.[1][2] A colony with multiple queens is said to be apolygyne form, whereas one with only one is amonogyne form.
The ancient Greek origin ofgyne meant a woman who had given birth to at least one child.[3]
In species lacking morphological castes (i.e., where "workers" may not be sterile), the term "gyne" is usually reserved for those females whose entire life is spent as a reproductive or potential reproductive, as opposed to those who start life as a worker and subsequently attain reproductive status (often called a "replacement queen" or a "laying worker"). These can be seen in certain species ofstingless bee like thePlebeia remota where both gynes and workers are capable of reproducing.[4] In most species with annual colony cycles, only gynes can enterdiapause and overwinter, while workers – both non-reproductive and reproductive – die off. In some groups, such aspaper wasps, gynes join with other gynes at the time of nest founding, and may be relegated to subordinate reproductive roles, so being a gyne does not guarantee that a female will become a queen.
Thered imported fire ant is known to have colonies in both polygyne and monogyne forms.
The small red ant,Leptothorax acervorum, has colonies that switch from monogyny to polygyny as a result of seasonal fluctuations.[5]
The little fire antWasmannia auropunctata produces unique kinds of meioticoocytes with a drastic reduction in recombination. These oocytes may either fuse together for gyne production (automictic parthenogenesis with central fusion) or be fertilized by male gametes for the production of workers.[6]
In the wasp speciesApoica flavissima queens display distinct morphological differences from the sterile worker class. InRopalidia plebeiana, gynes do not stay in the nest after they emerge as adults, but may spend their winters in their maternal nests.[7]
In queenright colonies (red symbols), selfishness is more common in high relatedness species.