PERFECT SENSE - Nose for truth: Ants can smell a friend from a foe
Washington:
PTI
Ants use their powerful sense of smell to distinguish intruders from safe fellow-ants in their colonies, scientists, including those of Indian-origin, have found.
Scientists have found that ants communicate using a number of hydrocarbon chemicals present on their cuticles (their outer shells) and by smelling these cuticles present on others they identify the different members of their society.
Anandashankar Ray , who led the research team team, said they applied a powerful electrophysiology method, to test hydrocarbons present on the worker and queen cuticles that have previously been suspected to act as phe romone cues.“We found that these very low volatility compounds are not only detected sensitively by their specialized antennal sensors, but also almost all of the hydrocarbon components,“ Ray said.
“Using this ability to smell `ant body odour' ants can recognize the various castes in the colony as well as intruders,“ the University of California professor added.
