ScienceAugust 15, 2026
nestmates
NEST-mayts
Definition
Other individuals, specifically ants, that belong to the same colony and share the same living space.
Etymology
The word is a compound of the Old English 'nest' and the Middle English 'mate,' which originally meant a companion or associate. It emerged in English to specifically describe individuals who share a dwelling or nest.
In the news
In the article, researchers analyzed how interactions between nestmates allow movement or information to spread throughout an ant colony. Understanding these interactions is key to modeling how collective behavior, like synchronized activity, emerges from individual actions.
Scientists simulating ant swarms find a 'first mover' can set the colony in motion
Read the full article ↗Phys.org