polydomy

polydomy (uncountable)

1. (entomology) The situation where an ant colony is established across multiple nest sites.
   • 1987, Jörg Eder, Chemistry and biology of social insects, page 35:

     Thus polydomy ensues when an entire colony breaks up into several nesting aggregations.

   • 1990, Bert Hölldobler, The Ants‎, page 390:

     The outpost phenomenon probably accounts for many cases of polydomy, defined as the dispersal of the colony into multiple nest sites.

   • 1995, Andrew F. G. Bourke, Social Evolution in Ants‎, page 187:

     Although this uncertainty exists, the lack of absolute male bias confirms that seasonal polydomy is not a major influence on the population sex ratio.

• monodomy

• polydomous