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Nature

Title:		Insect communication: 'no entry' signal in ant foraging
Author(s):		Robinson EJ; Jackson DE; Holcombe M; Ratnieks FL;
Address:		"Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK. e.robinson@dcs.sheffield.ac.uk"
Journal Title:		Nature
Year:		2005
Volume:		438
Issue:		7067
Page Number:		442 -
DOI:		10.1038/438442a
ISSN/ISBN:		1476-4687 (Electronic) 0028-0836 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Forager ants lay attractive trail pheromones to guide nestmates to food, but the effectiveness of foraging networks might be improved if pheromones could also be used to repel foragers from unrewarding routes. Here we present empirical evidence for such a negative trail pheromone, deployed by Pharaoh's ants (Monomorium pharaonis) as a 'no entry' signal to mark an unrewarding foraging path. This finding constitutes another example of the sophisticated control mechanisms used in self-organized ant colonies"
Keywords:		*Animal Communication Animals Ants/*physiology Cues Feeding Behavior/*physiology Motor Activity/physiology Pheromones/*physiology Reward;
Notes:		"MedlineRobinson, Elva J H Jackson, Duncan E Holcombe, Mike Ratnieks, Francis L W eng England 2005/11/25 Nature. 2005 Nov 24; 438(7067):442. doi: 10.1038/438442a"