Fitness and aging in Cardiocondyla obscurior ant queens

Easy maintenance, controlled mating and short generation time make Cardiocondyla obscurior an interesting model for social insect aging research. Using this ant we have begun to study the proximate genomic relationship between mating and aging. Although mating in general has a positive effect and results in fertile queens with long life but drastically reduced metabolic rates, mating can also dramatically reduce queen fitness. Here we review a decade of research on factors affecting queen aging rate and contrast these findings with studies on honeybees and solitary aging models. We conclude by giving a brief outlook of what is to be expected from this model in coming years.