Tag Archives: ant

Entomologists Launch Comprehensive Digital Library Showcasing Global Ant Diversity

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Utilizing advanced X-ray technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence, entomologists have successfully developed interactive digital imagery for 792 ant species across 212 genera.

A detailed Antscan specimen rendering: Eciton Hamatum. Image credit: Katzke et al., doi: 10.1038/s41592-026-03005-0.

To create this extensive digital library, researchers at the Okinawa University of Science and Technology, led by Julian Katzke, gathered ethanol-preserved ant specimens from museums, partner institutions, and global experts.

The team organized the specimens by species and category and transported them to the lab. The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany provided cutting-edge X-ray micro-CT scanning, similar to medical CT scans but with significantly higher magnification.

A synchrotron particle accelerator generated a powerful X-ray beam, enabling rapid scanning of a vast array of samples, while a robotic sample changer seamlessly rotated images every 30 seconds.

This sophisticated process facilitated the production of 2D image stacks, essential for constructing 3D models.

Despite the utility of raw image files, initial depictions of the ant specimens were often distorted, falling short of achieving the realistic models scientists envisioned.

3D imaging allows for the visualization of internal structures, including muscles, nervous systems, and digestive systems, at a micrometer level of resolution.

These models can easily be animated or integrated into virtual reality environments for purposes spanning research, education, and entertainment.

“If we had conducted this project using a standard lab-based CT scanner, it would have taken six years of continuous operation,” Dr. Katzke explained.

“With the KIT setup, we scanned 2,000 specimens in just one week.”

Professor Evan Economo, a researcher at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology and the University of Maryland, remarked, “Without these computational tools, completing this project manually would have been nearly impossible.”

Dubbed the Antscan, this initiative could pave the way for future digitization efforts across various species beyond ants.

“The significance of this research extends far beyond ants,” Professor Economo stated. “Once specimens are digitized, we can create libraries that enhance the utilization of biological materials across science labs, classrooms, and even Hollywood studios.”

The team’s study was published in the prestigious journal Nature Methods.

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J. Katzke et al. High-throughput phenomics of global ant biodiversity. Nat Methods published online March 5, 2026. doi: 10.1038/s41592-026-03005-0

Source: www.sci.news

Fossil Amber Unveils Ancient Ant Ecological Interactions with Other Organisms

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Fossils preserved in amber are not only exquisite but also provide insights into ancient ecological interactions, including potential parasitism and symbiotic relationships between ants and mites. This revelation comes from a groundbreaking morphological study analyzing six amber specimens: Baltic, Dominican, and Burmese.

Fossils of an ant colony preserved in Baltic Sea amber from Lithuania. Image credit: José de la Fuente & Agustín Estrada-Peña, doi: 10.3389/fevo.2026.1724595.

“Inclusions in amber reveal potential interactions between various organisms that shaped prehistoric environments,” stated paleontologist Dr. Jose de la Fuente from the Game and Wildlife Research Institute.

“The identification and morphological analysis of fossil ants and other insects in amber offer a glimpse into life on Earth millions of years ago.”

In this pioneering study, de la Fuente and colleagues examined four pieces of Cretaceous amber (dating back 99 million years), one Eocene amber (approximately 56 to 34 million years ago), and one Oligocene amber (roughly 34 to 23 million years ago).

The specimens comprised ancient ants and other organisms, as well as a rare phenomenon known as syninclusion.

“The earliest ants, identified from the late Cretaceous period, were known as stem ants, which left no modern descendants. All existing ants evolved from crown ants,” the researchers emphasized.

“Both ant types are present in the six amber specimens we investigated, including the hell ant, which evolved from stem ants.”

The researchers utilized advanced microscopy to identify various species and document the distances between ants and other organisms in the specimens.

In three of the six amber pieces, ants were discovered in close proximity to mites.

The first specimen revealed crested ants, a wasp, and two ticks closely associated, suggesting they may have been traveling on the ants.

The second piece showcased stem ants alongside spiders, while the third contained hell ants, snails, millipedes, and numerous unidentified insects.

The fourth specimen featured a stem ant and a mite approximately 4 mm apart.

The fifth amber fragment included three distinct types of ants related to mites and termites, as well as poorly preserved mosquitoes and winged insects.

In the sixth sample, stem ants were found alongside wasps and spiders believed to be parasitic. It appeared the ants were consuming something, resting against another insect inclusion that might be a worm or larva, yet no interaction was evident, hinting it could be a coincidence.

“The closest co-inclusions of ants likely reflect behaviors and interactions between these organisms,” Dr. de la Fuente noted.

“The ant-mite interaction observed in the fourth specimen may indicate two potential scenarios.”

“First, a special symbiotic relationship where the tick hitches a ride on the ant to disperse to new habitats; second, parasitism occurring when the mites feed on the ant host during transport.”

While amber fragments featuring ants are scarce, those with multiple species are even rarer. Existing evidence suggests interactions between ants and mites may sometimes be mutually beneficial.

Future studies could clarify these interactions using micro-CT scans to explore attachment structures that may facilitate the mites’ travel on ants.

“Advanced imaging techniques are essential for enhancing the analysis of interactions among diverse organisms in fossil amber inclusions,” concluded Dr. de la Fuente.

For more details, read the research team’s paper published today in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.

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Jose de la Fuente and Agustín Estrada-Peña. 2026. Description of fossil amber containing ant co-inclusions. Front. Ecol. Evol 14; doi: 10.3389/fevo.2026.1724595.

Source: www.sci.news

Discover the Unique Ant Species: A Queens-Only Colony with No Males or Workers

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The parasitic species Temnothorax kinomurai targets the closely related ants, Temnothorax makora.

Credit: Clalit/iNaturalist

In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have identified a unique parasitic ant species in Japan that has effectively eradicated both male and female worker ants from their colonies. This means that all individuals in these colonies function as queens, attempting to dominate the nests of competing species.

Typically, ant colonies are structured with a queen, female workers, and short-lived males that die shortly after mating.

For over four decades, scientists have speculated about the existence of this elusive parasitic ant, Temnothorax kinomurai, which is known to produce only queens. Until now, however, there was no definitive proof.

Young queens of this parasitic species infiltrate the nests of closely related ants, Temnothorax makora, killing the host queen and some workers through stinging. They then reproduce asexually, creating cloned offspring in a process called parthenogenesis—a phenomenon that is rare among ants but common in other insect species. As a result, workers from T. makora are deceived into nurturing the young kinomurai queens.

Research led by Jurgen Heinze and his team at the University of Regensburg, Germany, successfully bred and raised T. kinomurai queens in a controlled laboratory environment, resulting in 43 queen offspring—none of which displayed male reproductive organs.

The resulting 43 queens were then introduced to colonies of T. makora. Out of these, seven queens survived and successfully executed their takeover, producing 57 additional offspring, all confirmed to be female queens.

“This discovery reveals a completely new form of social organization among ants, adding a fascinating dimension to the already complex world of ants,” Heinze states.

While invading the colonies of other species can be a precarious tactic—evidenced by the study’s high queen failure rates—having an all-female offspring increases the likelihood of establishing a new reproductive colony.

“If parthenogenesis arose through random mutation, this is the outcome. A single T. kinomurai queen can produce 100 daughters without the need for mating, leading to 100 queens ready to seek out new colonies,” Heinze explains.

“This species represents the pinnacle of social parasitism evolution, showcasing the remarkable adaptability in the life cycles of social insects,” he concludes.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

How Pollution Alters Ant Scent, Leading to Attacks on Nestmates

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Harvester ants and the impact of ozone pollution

Harvester Ants and Scent Recognition

Credit: JorgeOrtiz_1976/Shutterstock

Common air pollutants like ozone and nitric oxide can alter the scent of ants, triggering aggressive behavior from nestmates who perceive them as intruders.

Ants rely on scent for social recognition, and when they encounter individuals with unfamiliar scents, they often react with aggression—biting or even killing the perceived invader. Notably, ozone—a greenhouse gas emitted from vehicle exhaust and industrial processes—can impact the chemical makeup of alkenes, compounds important to the unique scent profile of their colony.

Markus Knaden and researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, previously noted that ozone-induced changes in alkenes can disrupt insect communication, leading to phenomena such as fruit flies mating with inappropriate partners or pollinators like the tobacco moth losing interest in flowers. But how does ozone affect ant behavior?

To explore this, Knaden’s team established artificial colonies of six ant species, exposing them to glass chambers with varied ozone concentrations, mirroring summer levels recorded in Jena. Upon their return, the subjected ants faced attacks from their colony members.

“I honestly didn’t expect this outcome,” Knaden remarked. “We anticipated the ozone might alter just a small fraction—2 to 5 percent—of the overall scent blend.”

In natural settings, such aggressive behavior can hinder colony efficiency, even without any fatalities among the ants, though it is complex to design experiments that effectively measure these impacts.

Daniel Cronauer, a professor at Rockefeller University in New York, commented that the aggression observed is not surprising given the crucial role alkenes play in identifying nestmates.

Alkenes also facilitate other vital ant behaviors, including tracking via footprints and communication between larvae and adults. This study indicates that ozone exposure may lead clonal ant adults (Oseraea Billoi) to neglect their larvae, suggesting that these changes could disrupt various facets of ant life and potentially affect broader ecosystem dynamics.

“In most terrestrial ecosystems, the removal of ants would likely lead to catastrophic consequences,” Cronauer stated. Ants are pivotal for dispersing seeds, aerating soil, and fostering symbiotic relationships with other species.

With global insect populations in decline, this research adds to a growing body of evidence linking air pollution to these declines. Knaden asserts that while current ozone levels may not pose immediate dangers to humans, “we must acknowledge the unseen consequences of our actions.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Parasitic Ant Deceives Workers into Assassinating the Queen and Seizing Her Throne.

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The parasitic ant queen Lasius orientalis (left) invading the nest of Lasius flavus and approaching the queen (right)

Keizo Takasuka/Kyushu University

Some parasitic ants usurp colonies of related species by prompting worker ants to eliminate and replace the resident queen.

Approximately 230 species of ants are classified as parasitic, depositing eggs within the nests of other species or pilfering larvae and pupae. Certain species eliminate the host queen before laying their eggs and manipulate the worker ants to care for these eggs instead.

Professors Keizo Takasuka and his colleagues at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, observed this behavior when the queen of the parasitic species Lasius orientalis inadvertently invaded a relative’s nest, Lasius flavus. The workers proceeded to kill their own queen.

While many parasitic queens face elimination by worker ants upon discovery, some manage to camouflage themselves with the colony’s scent and evade detection.

To gauge the effectiveness of the parasitic queens, the researchers aided the intruders by disguising them with the scent of worker ants before placing them into the colony.

“It reminds me of the TV series The Walking Dead, where characters pass through hordes of zombies with walker blood smeared on them, operating under a disguise that often fails, leading to brutal deaths for those exposed,” Takasuga remarks.

Once the parasite breaches a colony, it emits a chemical, likely formic acid, through a gland at the end of its abdomen to target a rival queen.

Worker ants perceive this chemical as a threat and attack the rival queen upon detecting it. However, the process is gradual, necessitating multiple sprays and numerous assaults before the queen is ultimately killed. The parasitic queen can then lay her eggs, which are nurtured by the worker ants.

“If the parasitic strategy succeeds, the new queen can navigate the delicate establishment phase much more securely than if she were to start a colony independently,” Takasuga comments. “This approach might be more prevalent than we currently acknowledge.”

Researchers at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, including Chris Reid, assert that the intricate behaviors of ants are challenging to observe due to their subterranean nests.

“This form of natural history detective work is crucial for enhancing our understanding of these immensely significant insects,” Reid notes. “Further investigations may even pave the way for novel methods to target invasive ant queens, a major challenge facing ecosystems globally.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Queen Ant Produces New Male Species for Daughter’s Mating

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Male ants of distinct species laid by the same mother: Messor ibericus (left) and Messor structor (right)

Jonathan Romiguier

In the clutches of the Iberian Harvester Ant queens, another male species, the Builder Harvester Ant, emerges. These males are responsible for siring all the workers in the colony.

“This assertion appears utterly unbelievable, akin to the impossible,” remarks Jonathan Romiguier from the University of Montpellier, France. Nonetheless, he has confirmed its validity.

Romiguier’s curiosity was piqued by the Iberian harvester ants (Messor ibericus) after he discovered that all the workers were hybrids. About half of their DNA aligned with that of the builder harvester ant (Messor structor).

The most plausible explanation is that the queen of M. ibericus mated with a male of M. structor. This occurrence is seen in other ant species. The reasons remain unclear, but two main theories have emerged. One is that hybrids of closely related species could benefit from what’s known as hybrid vigor, where various genes can compensate for each other’s deficiencies.

Another theory suggests this may address a peculiar challenge faced by M. ibericus and several other harvester ant species: whenever M. ibericus queens mate with males of their own species, all offspring become queens. This might stem from a genetic tendency to secure their lineage, but it becomes detrimental for colonies that need worker ants for survival. Breeding with another species may provide a solution.

However, M. ibericus colonies are widespread across various Mediterranean locales, unlike M. structor colonies, which are exclusive to Sicily. Nonetheless, Romiguier and his team encountered peculiar, hairless males of M. structor within an M. ibericus nest. So, where did they originate?

The genetic examination of these unusual males yielded perplexing insights. A tiny segment of the mitochondrial DNA—passed solely from the mother—indicated that these males derive from the M. ibericus queen.

This hinted that the eggs produced by the queen of M. ibericus could encompass males of a different species. To verify this theory, Romiguier brought several M. ibericus colonies into his lab. “Under laboratory conditions, it’s nearly impossible to find a male,” he comments. “We maintained about 50 colonies and observed one male for two years without success. Then, fortune smiled upon us.”

From three M. structor males born in the lab, the evidence was undeniable: the queen of M. ibericus produced males from both species. The only explanation for this phenomenon is that the queen ant cloned M. structor males using stored sperm in specialized organs called spermathecae. The resulting eggs were almost entirely devoid of M. ibericus DNA, except for its mitochondrial component.

This also clarifies the origin of M. structor sperm: by producing two types of males, the queen guarantees that her daughters who evolve into queens can mate with both male types. The females use M. ibericus sperm to generate new queens, while M. structor sperm is utilized for hybrid workers and new male ants.

There are notable instances from other species—including ants, mollusks, and stick insects—where female eggs are manipulated by male sperm from different species, leading to the elimination of egg DNA and the production of unrelated individuals. However, this scenario mainly benefits males. This is the sole known instance where both male and female offspring from distinct species rely on each other for reproduction.

“The queen of M. ibericus is entirely dependent on her cloned males. Without them, she cannot produce workers,” states Romiguier. Moreover, the clones of M. structor need the males of M. ibericus for rearing workers and sustaining their colonies—there is no sign that they mate exclusively within their species.

While these findings may seem far-fetched, they have garnered the support of other specialists. “The researchers conducted thorough investigations into these ants,” comments Nathan Law from the University of Sydney. “Their results robustly affirm their conclusions.”

He speculates that cloned males could accumulate harmful genetic mutations that may not be purged over time due to the lack of interbreeding with other strains. “Eventually, this system may start to decline, especially as environmental conditions shift.”

Romiguier agrees that this exceptional situation might eventually lead to collapse. Yet, at present, it appears that M. ibericus and M. structor have navigated their relationship with ingenious adaptability, propelling their expansion throughout the Mediterranean, while M. structor colonies have not established themselves elsewhere.

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Microrobot swarm replicates incredible ant feats

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Robots the size of a grain of sand work together like ants

Jung Jae-wi et al.

Swarms of small robots guided by magnetic fields can coordinate and act like ants, even swarming to form floating rafts or lifting objects hundreds of times their weight. The microrobots, which are about the size of a grain of sand, could one day be able to perform tasks that larger robots cannot, such as unclogging blood vessels or delivering drugs to specific parts of the human body.

Jung Jaewi and his colleagues at South Korea's Hanyang University built the tiny, cubic-shaped robot using a mold and epoxy resin embedded with a magnetic alloy. These tiny magnetic particles allow the microrobot to be “programmed” to form different configurations after being exposed to a strong magnetic field from a specific angle. The bot is controlled by an external magnetic field and can perform rotations and other movements. This approach allowed the team to “efficiently and quickly manufacture hundreds to thousands of microrobots” with magnetic profiles designed for specific missions, Wee said.

The researchers instructed swarms of microrobots to work together to overcome obstacles five times higher than individual microrobots and form floating rafts on water. The bot also punched through a clogged tube and transported tablets weighing 2000 times their individual weight through a liquid, demonstrating potential medical applications.

“These magnetic microrobots hold great promise for minimally invasive drug delivery in confined, confined spaces,” he says. small guangdong from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee was not involved in the study. However, microrobots are not yet capable of autonomously navigating complex and narrow spaces such as arteries.

There are also safety challenges, Dong said, including the need to coat “potentially toxic” magnetic particles with human-friendly materials. Still, he says he's optimistic about future medical applications for such microrobots. When safe, bots can “effectively travel to targeted disease sites and deliver drugs locally,” making treatments more precise and effective.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New metallic blue ant species found in India by entomologists

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The entomologist described a new species of ant. Parapara Tretina He is from Inguk village in the East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India.

Paraparatretina NeelaHolotype worker: (A) Head viewed from the front, (B) Body viewed from the back, (C) Body viewed from the side. Images courtesy of Sahanashree other., doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1203.114168.

Parapara Tretina A genus of small ants, generally 1-2 mm in length, belonging to the subfamily. Formicidae.

They are typically found in the Afrotropical, Australasia, Indomalaya, Oceania and Palaearctic biogeographical regions.

They live in a variety of tropical environments, from rainforests to forest clearings, and can be found in a wide range of habitats, from leaf litter on the ground to high up in the tree canopy.

Currently, the genus contains 38 valid species and four valid subspecies.

Fourteen species are known from the Indomalaya biogeographic region. Parapara Tretina Acetate It was previously the only species known from the Indian subcontinent.

Specimen of a new worker ant species Parapara Tretina The specimens were collected from a secondary forest at an altitude of 803 metres (2,635 feet) in Ing village, East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India.

“One evening, while I was exploring a tree hole about three metres high on a steep cattle track in the remote village of Inku, I saw something glow in the twilight,” he said. Dr. Dharma Rajan Priyadarsanan Ashoka Foundation for Ecological and Environmental Research and colleagues.

“In the dim light, two insects were sucked into the aspirator, which, to my surprise, I later discovered were ants.”

“Arunachal Pradesh, located in the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, Cyan Valley “There is a world of unparalleled diversity, much of which remains to be explored,” they said.

“But this richness, both culturally and ecologically, faces unprecedented threats.”

“Large infrastructure projects such as dams, highways and military installations, along with climate change, are rapidly transforming the valley.”

“The impacts extend beyond the valley itself, as these mountains not only sustain their own diverse ecosystems but also play a vital role in ensuring the well-being of millions of people living downstream.”

Named Paraparatretina NeelaThe newly discovered species is a tiny ant measuring less than 2mm in length.

The body is primarily metallic blue, except for the antennae, mandibles, and legs.

The head is subtriangular, with large eyes and triangular mouthparts (mandible) bearing five teeth.

This species has a distinctive metallic blue colour that distinguishes it from other species in the genus.

“With the exception of marine sponges, blue colouration in animals is a relatively rare phenomenon,” the researchers said.

“But there are also some blue species among vertebrates, such as fish, frogs and birds, and invertebrates, such as spiders.”

“Blue is a common color in many insects, especially hymenoptera. Apidae, Chrysanthemum family and Ichneumonidaeit is very rare Formicidae. “

“Blue colors in insects are typically produced by the arrangement of biological photonic nanostructures rather than pigments, and have evolved independently in different groups.”

“This vibrant feature raises an intriguing question: Could it serve a purpose in communication, camouflage, or other ecological interactions? A closer look at the evolution of this conspicuous color and its relationship to elevation and biology could provide clues.” Paraparatretina Neela It points to exciting avenues for research.”

Discovery Paraparatretina Neela It has been reported paper In the journal Zookie.

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R. Sahanashree other2024. Amazing new species Parapara Tretina Donisthorpe (1947) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Formicinae), from the Eastern Himalayas of India. Zookie 1203: 159-172; doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1203.114168

Source: www.sci.news