News Animals

Flipping a molecular switch can turn warrior ants into foragers

Toggling one protein soon after hatching can reprogram a worker ant’s career path

Florida carpenter ants

Normally, ants called minors (left) spend their time foraging for food. Other ants called majors (right) typically defend the nest and rarely forage, but injecting a chemical into their brains makes the ants start searching for food.

Riley Graham

By Jake Buehler

- More than 2 years ago

When it comes to career paths, worker ants split into castes: Some tackle defense, others forage for the colony.