A new study has revealed that parasitic ants can alter how their captive hosts recognize their nest mates. This ability allows the parasites to exploit their hosts and gain access to their resources.

The study, published in the journal "Current Biology," focused on the parasitic ant species Tetramorium inquilinum, which attacks and enslaves colonies of the ant species Myrmica rubra. The researchers found that T. inquilinum workers can produce a chemical signal that mimics the nest mate recognition cue of M. rubra. This chemical signal fools M. rubra workers into accepting T. inquilinum workers as nest mates, allowing the parasites to infiltrate the colony.

The researchers believe that T. inquilinum workers produce the M. rubra nest mate recognition cue using a specialized gland. This gland is located on the tip of the T. inquilinum worker's abdomen, and it produces a volatile compound that mimics the M. rubra nest mate recognition cue.

The researchers say that their findings provide a new insight into how parasitic ants exploit their hosts. They believe that the ability to alter host nest mate recognition cues could be a common adaptation among parasitic ants.

The study also found that M. rubra workers that were exposed to the T. inquilinum nest mate recognition cue were more likely to be aggressive towards their own nest mates. This suggests that the T. inquilinum nest mate recognition cue could also be used to disrupt the social cohesion of M. rubra colonies.

The researchers say that their findings could have implications for the control of parasitic ants and other social parasites. By understanding how parasitic ants exploit their hosts, it may be possible to develop new strategies for preventing or controlling their infestations.