Young Ants Beg for Death When Sick, New Study Reveals
8 days ago
- #colony-survival
- #ants
- #self-sacrifice
- Sick young ants release a smell to signal worker ants to destroy them, protecting the colony from infection.
- Ant colonies act as a 'super-organism,' prioritizing collective survival over individual ants.
- Worker ants leave the nest to die alone when infected, but pupae cannot due to their cocoons.
- Terminally ill pupae undergo a chemical change, producing a smell that prompts worker ants to kill them with poison.
- The poison acts as a disinfectant, eliminating both the pathogen and the pupae.
- Pupae only release the smell when worker ants are nearby, indicating a deliberate signal for destruction.
- Queen pupae do not send out the warning signal, likely due to stronger immune systems.
- Future research may explore whether queen pupae sacrifice themselves if they cannot overcome infection.