A new international study led by Kyushu University’s Keizo Takasuka has revealed an astonishing finding. It serves as an introduction to a truly shocking behavior of parasitic ants. On November 17, Current Biology published essential new research. It shows how the parasitic ant species Lasius umbratus expertly gains acceptance into and respects territory of its host Lasius flavus and Lasius japonicus, ultimately taking control of their colonies. Parasitic queen ant controls worker ants. She incites them to commit matricide by forcing them to kill their own queen mother.
Lasius umbratus aka “bad-smell ants” in Japan takes high tech to a new level to guarantee her victory. She fiercely, even ruthlessly, establishes her supremacy in the colony. The invading parasitic queen dupes the worker ants. Traditionally, these ants have a deadly defense for their queen, but she tricks them into perceiving her as an enemy. This manipulation leads to the brutal act of matricide, where the workers attack and kill the queen they are meant to protect.
The findings of the study demonstrate that this specific kind of matricide had never occurred before. For one, it offers zero health and reproductive benefits to the queen mother or the worker ants. Rather, it is the parasitic queen that benefits from this dark exchange. The results indicate that this matricide has the potential to deliver substantial gains. It can help to feed the young, allowing worker ants to put more toward the next generation.
Takasuka highlighted the importance of communication in ants’ lives, especially pheromones. He elaborated, saying, “Ants are children of the scents,” revealing how Lasius umbratus takes advantage of this sensory perception. The parasitic queen employs a devious strategy. She releases formic acid, disguising her natural scent with an offensive smell, making it difficult for worker ants to identify her mother as a threat.
“The parasitic ants exploit that ability to recognize odors, we believe, by spraying formic acid to disguise the queen’s normal scent with a repugnant one. This causes the daughters, who normally protected their queen mother, to attack her as an enemy,” – Keizo Takasuka
Beyond human applications, this study illuminates the intricate social interactions underlying ant societies. Read More Takasuka underscored a particularly exciting finding. Prior to this discovery, researchers had only recorded two forms of matricide, both of which were associated with positive outcomes for the mother or the young. By comparison, the matricide of Lasius umbratus provides absolutely no benefit to either participant.
“Up until now, only two types of matricide have been recorded in which either the mother or offspring benefit. In this novel matricide that we reported, neither profit; only the parasitic third party,” – Keizo Takasuka