Maintenance mechanism of collective ant society: Establishment of nestmate recognition to elucidate the recognition signals

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K06073
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 39050:Insect science-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Akino Toshiharu 京都工芸繊維大学, 応用生物学系, 教授 (40414875)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 同巣認識 / 羽化後経験学習 / 体表炭化水素 / 不飽和炭化水素 / 飽和炭化水素

Outline of Final Research Achievements

One of the most common species of Japanese ants, the black wood ant Formica japonica has a high ability to identify nestmates. Our previous studies have shown that in this ant species develops the ability within 3 to 4 days after the adult emerges. The current study focusing on the process of acquiring it tested the hypothesis that receiving chemical stimuli during contact with nestmates serves as an important key stimulus. A series of behavioral tests were conducted to determine the effects of artificially applied chemical stimuli on individuals isolated immediately after emergence. When comparing the behaviour of newly emerged individulas between three groups; one was reared alone without any chemical stimulation, the second was reared alone but with chemical stimulation, the third was reared normally with a caregiver nearby, the first gruop failed to acquire the ability but the second group succeeded as well as the third group. These results support our hypothesis.

Free Research Field

化学生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

社会性を有する生物の幼生個体が社会への帰属意識を獲得・形成する過程と要因を解明するにあたって、脊椎動物よりも神経システムがシンプルな真社会性昆虫であるアリ類を研究対象とすることによって、その過程と主要因：特定時期の特定シグナル体験が巣仲間認識能形成に必須であることが明らかになった。近年、外来生物として真社会性昆虫類の侵入も相次いでおり、その防除の難しさが浮き彫りになっているが、社会基盤の構築にかかわるプロセスを逆手にとることで、巣仲間認識を崩壊させるような新規防除剤開発も可能になるだろう。