Ant Nestmate and Non-Nestmate Discrimination by a Chemosensory Sensillum

TLDR

Chemical communication governs conflict and cooperation in animal societies, and in ants, cuticular hydrocarbon blends from non‑nestmates trigger overt aggression. The study characterizes a sensory sensillum on the antennae of *Camponotus japonicus* that mediates nestmate discrimination. The multiporous sensillum responds exclusively to non‑nestmate CHC blends, indicating a peripheral recognition mechanism for colony‑specific chemical signals.

Abstract

In animal societies, chemical communication plays an important role in conflict and cooperation. For ants, cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) blends produced by non-nestmates elicit overt aggression. We describe a sensory sensillum on the antennae of the carpenter ant Camponotus japonicus that functions in nestmate discrimination. This sensillum is multiporous and responds only to non-nestmate CHC blends. This suggests a role for a peripheral recognition mechanism in detecting colony-specific chemical signals.