The dealation pattern of independent and alate virgin females of Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Dealation is a critical biological process in the life cycle of Solenopsis invicta Buren, playing a pivotal role in reproduction, population dispersal, and survival strategies. However, over the past 30 years, there have been few studies on the patterns and underlying mechanisms of dealation in S. invicta. Existing research has mainly focused on the monogyne form, and there are certain limitations in terms of data collection density and sample size. In this study, 1,000 alate virgin females (hereafter "AV-females") of the polygyne form were individually isolated from queen pheromone exposure and monitored for independent dealation at 2-h intervals over 15 consecutive days. Results indicated that the peak dealation period for AV-females occurred between days 3 and 5, with 93.3% completing wing shedding within 2 to 6 days. The relationship between "dealation rate and dealation time" could be well fitted by a logistic model. Furthermore, dealation primarily occurred during the daytime, with 59.1% of AV-females completing dealation between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM, as well as between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM These findings provide foundational insights for advancing research into the mechanistic basis of dealation in S. invicta.