Altering ant uniforms

From San Francisco, at a meeting of the American Chemical Society

The chemical coat that an invasive ant species relies upon to recognize its kin may someday serve to turn family into foe, reports a team of chemists and behavioral ecologists from the University of California, Irvine.

The Argentine ant is now found in Mediterranean-type climates throughout the world. Its success as an invader rests partially in behavior not displayed back home (SN: 4/20/02, p.