nest mate discrimination

Nest mate discrimination is the ability of social insects, like ants or bees, to recognize and prefer members of their own colony. They use specific cues, such as chemical signals called cuticular hydrocarbons, on the insects' bodies to differentiate friends from outsiders. This helps protect the colony from intruders, reduce conflict, and ensure cooperation among colony members. When an insect encounters another, it assesses these chemical signals; if they match, they’re accepted as nest mates, if not, they are treated as intruders or enemies. This discrimination promotes colony integrity and survival.