Ants’ defence against disease includes the nest, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• Black garden ants (Lasius niger) modify their nest structure to combat disease spread.
• Ants exposed to a fungal pathogen constructed nests with dispersed entrances.
• Tunnel arrangements were altered to minimize physical contact among ants.
• Brood chambers were relocated to less connected nest areas to lower infection risk.

Detailed Insights:

• This behavior, termed "architectural immunity," highlights the role of the built environment in collective immunity.
• The altered nest design reduces interaction rates, effectively slowing down disease transmission within the colony.
• Such adaptive strategies demonstrate sophisticated social immunity mechanisms in insect colonies.
• These findings provide insights into how social insects manage disease outbreaks through collective action.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Fungal Pathogen: A fungus that causes disease in other organisms.
• Social Immunity: Collective behaviors that protect a social group from disease.
• Brood: Offspring being raised by the colony, including larvae and pupae.