(1st Place) Nutrient transfer in ant colonies: Trophic egg transfer as an alternative mechanism

Social insects rely on nutrient transfer to sustain their colonies, which is achieved through the sharing of food among nest members. The most commonly known mechanism of nutrient sharing is oral trophallaxis, in which food is orally transferred between individuals. While trophic egg transfer is proposed as an alternative mechanism for nutrient sharing, it remains rare for species to depend exclusively on this method. However, our study reveals an intriguing anomaly in Dolichoderus ants. In this study, we suggest that Dolichoderus ants do not exhibit trophallactic behavior, but instead compensate by laying trophic eggs that serve as a source of nutrition for larvae, queens, and workers. However, the absence of trophallaxis may limit the efficacy of traditional pest control strategies, such as boric acid liquid baits, underscoring the need for research into new pest management approaches. Accordingly, we propose further investigation into the prevalence and evolutionary trajectory of trophic egg usage in other pest ant species, as such insights could significantly enhance the refinement and efficacy of pest management strategies.