Communications Biology (Feb 2023)

Non-lethal fungal infection could reduce aggression towards strangers in ants

  • Enikő Csata,
  • Luca Pietro Casacci,
  • Joachim Ruther,
  • Abel Bernadou,
  • Jürgen Heinze,
  • Bálint Markó

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-04541-7
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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The application of alkane tricosane (n-C23) to non-nestmates decreases aggression towards them in ants, in line with its high level in infected workers, pointing at a pacifying signal in parasitic interferences in ant nestmate discrimination.