Tuesday 3 February 2015

Friend, foe or queen? Study highlights the complexities of ant perception

Date:
February 2, 2015

Source:
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Summary:
Researchers report that trap-jaw ants recognize the unique odor of a fertile queen only if the queen also shares the workers' own chemical cologne -- a distinctive blend of dozens of smelly, waxy compounds that coat the ants' bodies from head to tarsus. The discovery offers new insights into how social animals evolved and communicate with others in their group, the researchers say.


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