Table 1 Morphological and life history traits characteristic of the socially parasitic ant inquiline syndrome in the five known inquiline species within the Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants (modified from ref. ⁴³).

Elongated antennal scapes relative to the host species

x

x

x

x

x

Multiple egg-laying social parasite queens coexist in a host colony

x

x

?

x

Social parasite queens peacefully coexists with the host queen

x

x

x

x

Reduced queen body size relative to the host

x

x

x

x

x

Partial or complete loss of the inquiline worker caste

(x)

(x)

x

x

x

Shiny integument relative to opaque host queens

x

x

Reduced pilosity

x

x

Number of antennal segments reduced in the male

x

Number of maxillary palps reduced

x

Males resemble queens morphologically (gynaecomorphism)

x

Sib-mating inside the nest (adelphogamy)

x