June 2, 2022
Tamagawa University
Kyushu University
Keio University
A research group led by Associate Professor Satoshi Miyazaki of the Graduate School of Agriculture at Tamagawa University has clarified and reported in detail the formation process of a "thoracic crop" in queen ants of the species *Lasius japonicus*. The study reveals that when these queens found a new colony alone, they can raise their young even without access to food. During this brood-rearing period, they expand a part of their thoracic esophagus to form this "thoracic crop," which stores liquid food for the larvae. Since this method of colony foundation is typical for ants, the researchers suggest that the process of thoracic crop formation revealed in this study may be common to many ant species.
The results of this study were published online on May 31, 2022, in the American international scientific journal "Arthropod Structure & Development."
Please see below for the full press release.