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Monopolization at the cost of desiccation: Reduced waterproofing cuticular hydrocarbons impairs nestmate discrimination in an ant

After humans, social insects represent one of the most complex groups of social organisms, relying on a well-organized communication system among colony members. The transfer of information among individuals is primarily based on cuticular hydrocarbons (CHC). These chemical compounds, produced by all insects, initially evolved to prevent water loss1. They were subsequently co-opted as semiochemicals to communicate various types of information. This includes nestmate recognition in social insects2,3, enabling different colonies to partition resources by ousting conspecific competitors. In this study, we report the near complete loss of CHC production by workers of the ant Nylanderia fulva. This absence of CHCs is a double-edged sword. It represents a causative agent in the ecological success of this ant species — enabling the development of a large supercolony in its invasive range through limited ability to differentiate nestmates— but increases the risk of suffering ecological stress through desiccation.