Ant Body Odors Are Chemical Barcodes Used To Confirm The Identity Of Colony Members

Plants and Animals





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This is a colony of Camponotus floridanus ants with major and minor workers taking care of the brood. Juergen Leibig

Ant colonies can be very crowded spaces that require elaborate forms of cooperation. While some are nursing, others are collecting food and protecting the nest. And then there are strangers and intruders. Researchers trying to understand how individuals identify fellow members of their colony have discovered that there’s a distinct ant body odor that separates family and friends from foes. The findings are published in Cell Reports this week.