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• Messor ibericus, commonly known as the Iberian harvester ant, is a species of harvester ant found mostly in the Iberian Peninsula and parts of Europe. 

• Researchers found that queens of Messor ibericus can produce offspring of two different species. 
• They use a reproductive strategy where the queen lays eggs that develop either into pure Messor ibericus males and queens or into males of another species Messor structor, by cloning the sperm DNA of Messor structor and removing their own egg DNA.
• This process allows Messor ibericus colonies to produce hybrid worker ants that are vital for colony survival. The hybrid workers carry DNA from both Messor ibericus and Messor structor.
• This reproductive strategy evolved from sperm parasitism and also allows Messor ibericus to maintain colonies even when Messor structor males are not locally available by cloning Messor structor males.
• Scientists have coined the term "xenoparity" to describe this unique biological phenomenon of producing offspring of another species.

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