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Biology

Chemical Cues in Kin Recognition and Nepotism in Social Insects

Quick fact

Some social insects, like honeybees, can distinguish full sisters from half-sisters using cuticular hydrocarbon profiles, leading to nepotistic behavior in larval rearing and queen production.

Why this is interesting

How does a worker bee decide to feed one larva over another? It’s not a random choice—it uses a chemical fingerprint to detect its closest relatives.