Doomed ants send a final scent to save their colony

Ant pupae that are fatally sick release a special scent that warns the rest of the colony. This signal prompts worker ants to disinfect them with formic acid, stopping the infection before it can spread. This behavior helps ensure the colony's long-term survival. Researchers found that only pupae too sick to recover send this scent, showing just how finely tuned the colony’s early-warning system is.