Within‐colony transmission and the cost of a mutualistic bacterium in the leaf‐cutting ant Acromyrmex octospinosus

1 Stable mutualistic interactions require the long‐term alignment of fitness interests of participating species. This condition is fulfilled when the benefits of the relationship exceed the costs for all partners. 2 One apparent stabilizing factor in mutualisms is the vertical (parent to offspring) transmission of symbionts, as this tends to reduce the expression of virulent traits and reproductive conflicts. This study examines the cost and …