Caste-specific phenotypic plasticity of Asian weaver ants: Revealing the allometric and non-allometric component of female caste system of Oecophylla smaragdina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) by using geometric morphometrics

In eusocial insects, particularly in ants, caste differentiation is extremely complicated when we rely on traditional taxonomy. most species, the worker does not display any distinct morphological characters neither caste’s central division according to their size variations. We used a landmark-based geometric morphometric approach quantify characteristics of female systems (queen, major and minor ant) Oecophylla smaragdina. Our findings suggested that each has its unique shape size. Especially caste, apart from variations, can use as prominent tool for distinguishing between them. The O. smaragdina exhibits triphasic allometry pattern. Studying non-allometry components system revealed highly complex relationship systems. From allometric non-allometric analysis, concluded ants showed closer with queen than ant. This outcome demonstrated Asian weaver ant variations related correlated functional modular characters. research sheds new light systems’ taxonomic uncertainties hymenopteran groups, especially ants.