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Background odour may impair detection of chemical signals for social recognition

Effective communication requires precise signals that can be detected reliably against background noise. To demonstrate an impact of background noise on social signals, it is necessary to distinguish its effects on signal reception from that on behaviour more generally. The ability of workers of Iridomyrmex purpureus (Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) to distinguish between nestmates and non‐nestmates was impeded by the presence of background odour: workers antennated more frequently in behavioural assays involving non‐nestmates than nestmates and did so more frequently in the presence of background odour. However, the presence of background odour did not influence the level of aggression, which was explained only by the colony affiliation of the workers. These data reveal the impact of background odour on social signalling, by confirming its effect on signal reception, rather than behaviour more generally.