An interesting report by Steiner et al on the ant Lasius austriacus where the authors show that monogynous colonies of this ant species lacks aggression between colonies. In fact workers 'integrate' across colonies, maintaining self-nonself discrimination. This paper argues that the lack of aggression in ant colonies (documented only in 21 species till date) could be the first stage of establishing peace and this in turn could lead to super colonies. The results shown in Figure 1 of this article, which shows genetic relatedness, aggression, discrimination and cuticular hydrocarbons variation at different geographic distances [0-100 km] is simply stunning.
Steiner FM, Schlick-Steiner BC, Moder K, Stauffer C, Arthofer W, Buschinger A, Espadaler X, Christian E, Einfinger K, Lorbeer E, Schafellner C, Ayasse M & Crozier RH. 2007. Abandoning Aggression but Maintaining Self-Nonself Discrimination as a First Stage in Ant Supercolony Formation. Current Biology 17: 1903-1907.
Steiner FM, Schlick-Steiner BC, Moder K, Stauffer C, Arthofer W, Buschinger A, Espadaler X, Christian E, Einfinger K, Lorbeer E, Schafellner C, Ayasse M & Crozier RH. 2007. Abandoning Aggression but Maintaining Self-Nonself Discrimination as a First Stage in Ant Supercolony Formation. Current Biology 17: 1903-1907.
