Why are queens winged while workers are not? This research uncovered how developmental changes shaped one of the most important innovations in ant evolution, helping fuel the remarkable success of ant societies.

Arizona's Sky Islands provided a natural experiment for exploring how populations adapt to environmental change. By comparing isolated ant populations, this research uncovered new insights into the predictable—and surprising—patterns of evolution.

This landmark study revealed that ants can retain hidden developmental potential for millions of years, allowing long-lost "supersoldier" castes to reappear. The findings provide new insight into how evolution repeatedly generates biological innovation.