Sick young ants release a smell to tell worker ants to destroy them to protect the colony from infection, scientists said Tuesday, adding that queens do not seem to commit this act of self-sacrifice.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. The parasitic queen (Lasius orientalis) accepted by the host workers (Lasius flavus) shortly after matricide was committed. Takku ...

When worker ants inspect the pupae and encounter the scent, they get busy unpacking the cocoon and creating small openings in the pupae's body by biting it. Next, they disinfect the pupae with formic ...

Sick young ants release a smell to tell worker ants to destroy them to protect the colony from infection, scientists said Tuesday, adding that queens do not seem to commit this act of self-sacrifice.

Scientists document a new form of host manipulation where an invading, parasitic ant queen "tricks" ant workers into killing their queen mother. The invading ant integrates herself into the nest by ...

Scientists describe the behavior as "altruistic signalling," a form of social immunity in eusocial insects Getty A new research study finds infected ant pupae emit a chemical signal that prompts ...

Ant species that evolved thinner shells traded individual armor protection for increases in colony size, enabling improved food gathering, task organization and defense, according to researchers from ...

Scientists say they have for the first time unlocked how a parasitic ant uses chemical warfare to take over the nest of a different species, by tricking workers into an unlikely assassination.The ...

Invading parasitic ant queens trick ant workers from different colonies into killing and dismembering their own mother, so the invader can step in and take the throne, according to a new study. The ...

Scientists studying the way ant colonies defend against disease have discovered a surprising strategy: Young ants who become terminally ill will send out an altruistic "kill me" signal for the worker ...