In contrast to pupae, worker ants can leave the nest in case of illness, while pupae do not have such an option. Scientists noted that a specific odor is released only in the presence of "brothers" from the worker caste, emphasizing the awareness of this signal.
Experiments conducted with black garden ants Lasius neglectus showed that even healthy pupae treated with the scent of sick individuals were subjected to destruction. Interestingly, queen pupae do not emit such signals, as they possess a stronger immune system and can cope with infections on their own.
Thus, according to the researchers, the behavior of pupae can be considered an expression of altruism, as they sacrifice their lives for the preservation of the colony and the transmission of their genes.
The results of this study were published in the journal Nature Communications.
