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Story summary
- New research published in Nature Communications shows terminally ill Lasius neglectus pupae emit a chemical signal.
- Worker ants destroy these pupae to protect the colony from infection.
- Researchers label this behavior altruistic disease signaling and note it helps the colony function as a superorganism.
- The signal is released only in the presence of workers, indicating intentional communication.
- The mechanism promotes colony health and may influence gene propagation for future generations.
