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.