Home Science Cleaning, but safely! Cocoons protect sensitive ant brood during toxic disinfection

Cleaning, but safely! Cocoons protect sensitive ant brood during toxic disinfection

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Ants are neat: when they move into a new nest box, they spend the first days cleaning it thoroughly. Despite keeping the nest clean, using poison within the nest is dangerous and can kill unprotected brood. However, the silk cocoon that surrounds the ant’s sensitive pupae protects them from any harmful effects.