Overview
- Researchers report in Current Biology the first video-documented mechanism of induced matricide in Lasius ants, published November 17.
- Parasitic Lasius orientalis and L. umbratus queens first acquire the host colony’s odor to slip inside, then spray the resident queen to trigger worker attacks.
- Host species L. flavus and L. japonicus killed their queens after variable dosing, from two sprays in hours to roughly 16 sprays over 20 hours leading to death four days later.
- The sprayed fluid is suspected to be formic acid, but its identity and sufficiency remain unverified; the team proposes tests with synthetic formic acid and chemical assays.
- Following the killing, the invader often begins laying eggs cared for by host workers, though scientists note brood adoption may fail and broader field surveys are needed to assess how widespread the tactic is.