Scientists have, for the first time, uncovered the extraordinary mechanism by which certain parasitic ants infiltrate a foreign nest: they use a form of “chemical warfare” to deceive the workers and manipulate them into killing their own queen. The event plays out like a dark drama — the colony’s rightful queen is attacked by her own daughters, while the invading queen from another species waits patiently for the perfect moment to strike
This rare strategy was documented in ants of the Lasius genus, where parasitic queens such as L. orientalis and L. umbratus infiltrate the nests of other species by first absorbing their scent. Once disguised, they enter unnoticed and locate the resident queen. The intruder then sprays her with a chemical fluid that carries a sharp acidic odor, triggering aggression in the workers and causing them to turn violently against their biological mother.
According to the researchers, the deceived workers attack and dismember their queen over the course of several days, while the parasite stands aside, encouraging the assault with repeated chemical sprays. Only after the original queen is dead does the invader begin laying her eggs and taking full control of the colony, eventually replacing the host species entirely.
Scientists describe this discovery as one of the most sophisticated forms of social manipulation ever documented in insects. Unlike earlier observations where parasitic queens killed the resident queen directly, this case reveals a new tactic: using chemical signals to turn the colony’s own workers against their mother. A phenomenon extremely rare in nature — and stranger than many of the legends and myths humans have imagined over the centuries.
Leave a Reply