Which ant species may have multiple queens?

Argentine ants are known for having a social structure that includes multiple queens within their colonies. This characteristic, known as polygyny, allows the colonies to grow more rapidly since each queen can produce offspring simultaneously. The presence of multiple queens leads to larger colonies that can better exploit resources and defend territory.

In many other ant species, including carpenter ants and fire ants, colonies generally consist of a single queen or limited queen numbers, reflecting different reproductive strategies and colony structures. Thief ants, while also interesting in their behavior, typically operate under a monogynous system, having one queen per colony as well. This distinct trait of Argentine ants is critical in understanding their ecological impact and how they can dominate certain environments.