Data from: Unexpected absence of a multiple-queen supergene haplotype from supercolonial populations of Formica ants

Ants exhibit many complex social organization strategies. One particularly
elaborate strategy is supercoloniality, in which a colony consists of many
interconnected nests (=polydomy) with many queens (=polygyny). In many
species of Formica ants, an ancient queen number supergene determines
whether a colony is monogyne (=headed by single queen) or polygyne. The
presence of the rearranged P haplotype typically leads colonies
to be polygyne. However, the presence and function of this supergene
polymorphism have not been examined in supercolonial populations. Here, we
use genomic data from species in the Formica rufa group to
determine whether the P haplotype leads to supercoloniality. In a
Formica paralugubris population, we find that nests are polygyne, despite
the absence of the P haplotype in workers. We find spatial genetic
ancestry patterns in nests consistent with supercolonial organization.
Additionally, we find that the P haplotype is also absent in workers from
supercolonial Formica aquilonia, and Formica aquilonia x polyctena hybrid
populations, but is present in some Formica polyctena workers. We conclude
that the P haplotype is not necessary for supercoloniality in the Formica
rufa group, despite its longstanding association with non-supercolonial
polygyny across the Formica genus.