Task-specific patterns of odorant receptor expression in worker antennae indicates a sensory filter regulating division of labor in ants

We used transcriptomics to compare gene expression in the antennae and in the brain between nurses and foragers in the ant Temnothorax longispinosus. We found that seven times as many genes were differentially expressed between the behavioral phenotypes in the antennae compared to the brain. The results of this study support the hypothesis that a sensory filter in the antennae predisposes workers to specialize in specific tasks, and may improve our understanding of division of labor in insect societies.