Many social insects display age polyethism: young workers stay inside the nest, and only
older workers forage. This behavioural transition is accompanied by genetic and …

In the Florida harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex badius, foragers occur only in the top 15 cm of
the nest, whereas brood and brood-care workers reside mostly in the deepest regions, yet …

Task partitioning allows for efficient coordination of behavior in social insect colonies. Many
task allocation studies focus on social insect species with discrete morphological worker …

Foraging strategies of the ant Ectatomma vizottoi (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Foraging
activity may be limited by temperature, humidity, radiation, wind, and other abiotic factors, all …

The immune system is crucial for organisms to defend against pathogens. Likewise,
analogous immune features evolved against similar pressures at the superorganism scale …

The ecological success of ants hinges on their ability to adjust foraging strategies. Foragers
are crucial for securing food resources and display heterogeneities in exploring their …

Behavioral shifts in animals are often driven by ontogenetic processes such as aging or life
experiences, through changes in their physiology and/or gene expression. Colonies of …

Nest sites are important for social insects, as they provide refuge against enemies and
ensure optimal conditions for the brood development. In large nests, the different chambers …

Several worker subcastes may occur in ant colonies, including physiological, morphological,
and temporal subcastes. Leaf-cutting ants present intricate division of labor among worker …

Worker division of labor is a defining trait in social insects. Many species are characterized
by having behavioral flexibility where workers perform non-typical tasks for their age …