Females get along fine without males - in the world of tropical ants

The Mycocepurus smithii ant is the first known to be a male-free species.

Experts have discovered a South American species that is exclusively female and reproduces asexually by cloning the queen. Reproduction without sex is fairly common in the ant world, but the Mycocepurus smithii is the first known to be a male-free species. The phenomenon takes the stress out of finding a mate and may help keep the peace in colonies, the scientists believe. The findings run counter to scientific theories that say asexuality is an evolutionary disadvantage because it eliminates mutations and generates genetic diversity more slowly than sexual reproduction.

One possible advantage of asexual reproduction is that it avoids the need to find a mate and the efforts associated with mating, according to the researchers.