Evolution: Shape-Shifting Social Parasites.

Curr Biol

School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA. Electronic address:

Published: September 2020

Ants exploit differences in body surface chemistry to distinguish nestmates from colony intruders. Socially parasitic ants in Madagascar have convergently evolved morphological similarities to host worker anatomy, implying that body shape may also be surveilled. Studies of tactile behaviors in ant societies are now needed.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.07.010DOI Listing

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