The 'social complexity hypothesis' for communication posits that groups with complex social
systems require more complex communicative systems to regulate interactions and relations …

In the context of global environmental change much of the focus has been on changing
temperatures. However, patterns of rainfall and water availability have also been changing …

The body surface of nearly all insects, including ants, is covered with a lipid layer that largely
consists of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHC). They fulfil several functions, the two best-studied …

Insects use sex pheromones as a reproductive isolating mechanism to attract conspecifics
and repel heterospecifics. Despite the profound knowledge of sex pheromones, little is …

Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) cover the cuticles of virtually all insects, serving as a
waterproofing agent and as a communication signal. The causes for the high CHC variation …

Queen pheromones, which signal the presence of a fertile queen and induce daughter
workers to remain sterile, are considered to play a key role in regulating the reproductive …

Nestmate recognition is the process by which individuals discriminate between nestmates
and con-and hetero-specifics. Nestmate recognition is based on recognition cues, which …

Chemical messengers are the primary mode of intracolony communication in the majority of
social insect species. Chemically transmitted information plays a major role in nestmate …

Division of labor (DOL) is a characteristic trait of insect societies, where tasks are generally
performed by specialized individuals. Inside workers focus on brood or nest care, while …

Background During evolution, plants and other organisms have developed a diversity of
chemical defences, leading to the evolution of various groups of specialized metabolites …