Examination of a queen-specific chemical signal shows how olfactory cues maintain reproductive hierarchy in a eusocial mammal.
Key Takeaways
- Naked mole-rat queens produce isopropyl myristate, an ester enriched in breeding females
- Isopropyl myristate is detected by olfactory neurons and elicits avoidance in high-ranking animals
- Adding the ester prevented queen succession while withdrawal triggered aggression and reproductive competition