Latest Research! Nymphs also have an important function, which is the secretion of nutrients!

Introduction

For the first time, researchers have discovered that ant pupae produce a secretion that is consumed by worker ants and their larvae, which in turn leads to worker ants' caring behavior.

Caretaking behavior of worker ants

We used to think of worker ants as unconditional caretakers of their young and contributors to the colony, but that may be about to change.

The narrow intestines of worker ants are unable to swallow solid food, so the larvae are responsible for digesting and breaking down the solid food into nutrients, which are then consumed by the worker ants, in a way.Worker ants take care of their larvae to help them digest their food.The

We originally thought that nymphs were the only non-functional and non-productive stage in ant society, but in a recent study, researchers found that nymphs also have important social functions.

New Discoveries

Nymphs emit a secretion that is rich in nutrients, hormones and neuroactive substances. If this secretion is not cleaned up, the nymphs will die of fungal infections, but fortunately, this secretion is very attractive to the worker ants, who will quickly clean up and eat the secretion.

The pupa secretes this substance, calledmetamorphosis fluid

( That's why we haven't noticed any molt, because it's all eaten up immediately )

The worker ants enjoy the molt (and lick the nymphs all over), and this behavior is the result of cleaning, caring and nurturing the nymphs.

Worker ants take care of the larvae because they can help to digest the food;

The worker ants take care of the nymphs because the nymphs secrete something that can't be seen;

Perhaps the worker ants are not as selfless and devoted as the public thinks they are.

There's a new feature.

The molt is not only attractive to worker ants, but also an important source of nutrients for the early larvae!

It was found that worker ants feed their secretions to the young larvae, and if the larvae do not consume this nutritious secretion, they will suffer from delayed growth and reduced survival rate, which means that the larvae do not only rely on the care of the worker ants, but also need the secretion of the pupae to stimulate their growth.

And, this phenomenon exists in most ants.

( In Bichler's rough horned ants, it is more common for the younger larvae to be placed on the pupa and left to feed on the nymphal fluid on their own, and for the older larvae to be placed on the prey.)

Cocooned ants

What about the cocooning ant species?

It was found that pupae, which are covered with cocoon skin, also secrete moult to wet the bottom of the cocoon skin (the black side) for the adults to eat.

Conclusion

Until now, we have never detected the presence of this secretion, which is now shown to be an overlooked, central basis for ant interaction behavior and suggests that pupal/metamorphic secretion plays an important role in the social evolution of ants, as well as being prevalent in a wide range of ants.

Such new findings may provide new perspectives and ideas for future studies on ants' social interactions, growth and development, and special mechanisms.

original article

The pupal moulting fluid has evolved social functions in ants ( Orli Snir,2022)