GC–MS, behavioral, and acoustic datasets for necrophoric signaling in ants

This dataset contains files associated with the manuscript entitled “High-sensitivity death cues are stabilized by cross-modal error correction in ants”. It supports the study of chemical and acoustic regulation of necrophoric behavior in ants. The dataset includes raw GC–MS chromatogram data, behavioral video recordings, and acoustic recordings used to investigate a venom-derived death cue and its modulation by stridulatory signaling. All data are provided in raw, unprocessed form.
The dataset is organized into three main components. The raw chromatogram data files include GC–MS data from two fire ant species, Solenopsis invicta and Solenopsis geminata, comprising extracts from live workers, venom glands, freshly dead worker corpses, and worker corpses at 1 h postmortem. These data were used to identify venom-derived alkaloids that accumulate on the cuticle after death and function as necrophoric signals.
The acoustic recording files contain stridulatory signals from five Myrmicinae ant species (Solenopsis invicta, Solenopsis geminata, Pheidole noda, Messor barbarus, and Tetramorium smithi) used in sound playback and behavioral assays. These recordings correspond to vitality-associated signals that were used to test cross-modal error-correction mechanisms in corpse recognition.
The video files (Videos S1–S9) correspond to the supplementary materials referenced in the manuscript and document necrophoric behavior, corpse recognition, chemical manipulation experiments, and acoustic playback assays. Each video directly matches its description in the Supplementary Information.