Data from: Targeted treatment of injured nestmates with antimicrobial compounds in an ant society

Infected wounds pose a major mortality risk in animals. Injuries are
common in the ant Megaponera analis, which raids pugnacious prey. Here we
show that M. analis can determine when wounds are infected and treat them
accordingly. By applying a variety of antimicrobial compounds and proteins
secreted from the metapleural gland to infected wounds, workers reduce the
mortality of infected individuals by 90%. Chemical analyses showed that
wound infection is associated with specific changes in the cuticular
hydrocarbon profile, thereby likely allowing nestmates to diagnose the
infection state of injured individuals and apply the appropriate
antimicrobial treatment. This study demonstrates that M. analis ant
societies use antimicrobial compounds produced in the metapleural glands
to treat infected wounds and reduce nestmate mortality.