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Brief Communications
Nature 438, 442 (24 November 2005) | doi:10.1038/438442a; Published online 23 November 2005
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Insect communication: 'No entry' signal in ant foraging
Elva J. H. Robinson1, Duncan E. Jackson2, Mike Holcombe2 & Francis L. W. Ratnieks1
Abstract
Forager ants lay attractive trail pheromones to guide nestmates to food1, 2, but the effectiveness of foraging networks might be improved if pheromones could also be used to repel foragers from unrewarding routes3, 4. Here we present empirical evidence for such a negative trail pheromone, deployed by Pharaoh's ants (Monomorium pharaonis) as a 'no entry' signal to mark an unrewarding foraging path. This finding constitutes another example of the sophisticated control mechanisms used in self-organized ant colonies.
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