A chilling discovery reveals that some ant species can be manipulated into killing their own queen, a behavior rarely observed in the animal kingdom. Researchers have documented this parasitic takeover with disturbing video evidence, showcasing how an outsider queen orchestrates a deadly coup within unsuspecting colonies.
The Parasitic Infiltration
The scheme is executed by queens from species like Lasius orientalis or L. umbratus, who infiltrate colonies of L. flavus or L. japonicus. These intruders don’t rely on force; instead, they exploit the ants’ reliance on scent recognition.
According to behavioral ecologist Keizo Takasuka of Kyushu University, “Ants live in the world of odors.” Before entering a nest, the parasitic queen camouflages herself by covering her body in the host colony’s scent, ensuring she isn’t immediately identified as an enemy.
The Chemical Attack
Once inside, the parasitic queen launches a calculated attack. She repeatedly sprays jets of fluid from an acidopore —a specialized opening—targeting the resident queen. The researchers suspect this fluid is formic acid, a potent chemical weapon.
This isn’t a random assault. The parasitic queen exploits the host colony’s own defense mechanisms against intruders. By flooding the queen’s scent with formic acid, she tricks the worker ants into perceiving their mother as a threat.
“The parasitic ants exploit that ability to recognize odors by spraying formic acid to disguise the queen’s normal scent with a repugnant one. This causes the daughters, who normally protected their queen mother, to attack her as an enemy,” explains Takasuka.
The Power Grab
After the resident queen is killed, the parasitic queen seizes control. She begins laying her own eggs, and remarkably, the worker ants accept the new matriarch without resistance. They dutifully tend to the parasite’s offspring, ensuring the survival of the invading lineage.
The parasite isn’t careless; she retreats quickly after each attack, aware that formic acid is equally dangerous to her if detected by the host workers.
This phenomenon highlights the brutal efficiency of insect warfare, where deception and chemical manipulation can topple entire societies. The fact that ants—social creatures built on cooperation—can be so easily tricked into matricide underscores the ruthless pragmatism of natural selection.
It’s a harsh reminder that even within seemingly stable ecosystems, deadly intrigue is always at play.
