Thomas Schmitt

Conserved task-specific profiles outweigh seasonal shifts in cuticular hydrocarbons of European honey bee subspecies

The paper investigates seasonal changes in cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) of European honey bee subspecies, finding task-specific profiles are more consistent than seasonal shifts.

Tolerance toward foreigners in ants requires chronic exposure for establishment but only sporadic exposure for maintenance

The paper shows that ants can develop tolerance toward foreigners through chronic exposure but maintain it with sporadic exposure.

The potential role of volatile organic compounds on the colonisation of deadwood by saproxylic beetles

This study investigates how volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from deadwood influence saproxylic beetle colonization, finding distinct VOC profiles linked to tree species and beetle assemblages.

Altruistic disease signalling in ant colonies

The paper shows that infected ant pupae emit chemical signals to trigger their own destruction by colony members, with worker pupae doing so due to weaker immunity compared to queen pupae.

Better Safe Than Sorry: Leg Amputations as a Prophylactic Wound Care Behaviour in Carpenter Ants

This study shows that carpenter ants perform indiscriminate leg amputations on infected and sterile wounds, reducing mortality but not differentiating between injury states.

Social wound care dynamics in an army ant society

This study shows that social wound care can evolve in large groups, driven by injury rates and lethality rather than group size, using army ants as a case study.

The Invisible Heterogeneity of a Forest -- Beta Diversity of Volatiles

The paper quantifies how forest structural changes affect volatile organic compound beta-diversity and finds deadwood, not canopy openness, drives this increase.

Recognition of an appropriate mating partner using cuticular hydrocarbons in a species with an extreme intra-sexual dimorphism

The paper investigates how cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles in mason wasps change with age and affect male mating behavior, finding that methyl-branched alkanes reduce male harassment of immature females.

Expression of elongase- and desaturase-encoding genes shapes the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of honey bees

This study examines gene expression of elongase- and desaturase-encoding genes in honey bees and links it to cuticular hydrocarbon profiles across task groups and subspecies.

Deciphering the variation in cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of six European honey bee subspecies

The paper compares cuticular hydrocarbon profiles across six European honey bee subspecies to assess adaptation to climate and social roles, finding subspecies-specific differences and task-related variations.

A chemically defined oviposition attractant and repellent of Black Soldier Flies (Hermetia illucens)

This paper identifies and synthesizes chemical attractants and repellents for Black Soldier Fly oviposition, improving rearing efficiency.

Intrasexual cuticular hydrocarbon dimorphism in a wasp sheds light on hydrocarbon biosynthesis genes in Hymenoptera

The paper identifies genes involved in cuticular hydrocarbon biosynthesis in Hymenoptera using intrasexual dimorphism and transcriptomics.

Genetic and genomic architecture of species-specific cuticular hydrocarbon variation in parasitoid wasps

This study identifies genetic loci and candidate genes associated with cuticular hydrocarbon variation in parasitoid wasps, revealing genomic regions linked to methyl-branched alkane biosynthesis.