Aims: The origin and evolution of biodiversity is one of the most important scientific
questions in the field of life sciences. The accumulation of multi-omics data and the …

Here, we reveal an unanticipated role of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in regulating complex
social behavior in ants. Using scRNA-seq, we find localization in the BBB of a key hormone …

Highlights•Integrated omics facilitate neuropeptide identification and spatiotemporal
analysis.•Social behavior complexity involves regulatory network of multiple neuropeptides.• …

Ant colonies with permanent division of labour between castes and highly distinct roles of
the sexes have been conceptualized to be superorganisms, but the cellular and molecular …

Phenotypic plasticity displayed by an animal in response to different environmental
conditions is supposedly crucial for its survival and reproduction. The female adults of some …

Ant societies show a division of labor in which a queen is in charge of reproduction while
nonreproductive workers maintain the colony. In Harpegnathos saltator, workers retain …

Background Functional genomic analyses rely on high-quality genome assemblies and
annotations. Highly contiguous genome assemblies have become available for a variety of …

Caste differentiation involves many functional traits that diverge during larval growth and
metamorphosis to produce adults irreversibly adapted to reproductive division of labor …

Neuroecology theory predicts relative investment in brain regions will vary to match
differences in behavior. Social insect castes provide exceptional opportunities to test for …

Social insect castes (eg, queens, workers) are prime examples of phenotypic plasticity (ie,
different phenotypes arising from the same genotype). Yet, the mechanisms that give rise to …