Takasaki, Japan―Researchers at the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) and the University of the Ryukyus have developed a new imaging method that makes it possible to see, in real time, how food is distributed and exchanged inside groups of ants. The work sheds light on how social insects organize themselves, and it could eventually help scientists detect early signs of disruption in insect communities that play essential roles in pollination, agriculture, and biodiversity.
In the study, a single ant was fed a tiny amount of sugar labeled with a radioactive tracer. When that ant rejoined its nestmates, the researchers used a highly sensitive positron imaging system—similar in principle to medical positron emission tomography scans—to follow how the food spread through the group over several hours. The technique allowed the team to track not only where the food moved but also how evenly it was shared among individuals. This study was published in Volume 16, Article Number 6833, on March 26, 2026, in the journal Scientific Reports .
“ What surprised us was how dynamic food sharing can be ,” said Dr. Nobuo Suzui, senior principal researcher at Takasaki Institute for Advanced Quantum Science (TIAQ) of QST. He added, “ In some groups, food quickly spread evenly among many ants. In others, it stayed concentrated within just a few individuals, even after hours. ”
The team quantified these dynamics using a simple index that captured how balanced—or unbalanced—food distribution was over time. In some experiments, sharing rapidly became uniform. In others, food repeatedly shifted between a small subset of ants instead of spreading throughout the group. Such differences may reflect the internal roles of individual ants, such as foragers versus caretakers, and the overall condition of the colony.
Until now, researchers studying food exchange in ants have had to rely on indirect methods, colored dyes, or snapshots taken at fixed points in time. Those approaches often miss rapid or subtle changes and are limited to certain species. The new method overcomes these barriers by combining radioactive tracers with high‑resolution imaging, enabling precise and continuous measurement across a wide range of species.
“ This gives us a kind of ‘vital sign’ for insect societies ,” said Dr. Mitsutaka Yamaguchi, senior principal researcher at TIAQ. He continued, “ If food flow becomes abnormal, it may indicate stress, disease, or environmental pressure before visible damage occurs. ”
The implications extend well beyond ants. Social insects such as bees and termites rely on similar food‑sharing systems to survive. In the longer term, the researchers say, the technique could help identify early warning signs of colony collapse in pollinators, assess the spread potential of invasive ants, or provide new data for models of collective behavior—even in human systems such as logistics or social networks.
Reference
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-36930-3
About National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Japan
The National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) was established in April 2016 to promote quantum science and technology in a comprehensive and integrated manner. The new organization was formed from the merger of the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) with certain operations that were previously undertaken by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA).
QST is committed to advancing quantum science and technology, creating world-leading research and development platforms, and exploring new fields, thereby achieving significant academic, social, and economic impacts.
Website: https://www.qst.go.jp/site/qst-english/
About Dr. Nobuo Suzui
Dr. Nobuo Suzui works at the Takasaki Institute for Advanced Quantum Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Japan. His research focuses on the visualization of nutrient dynamics in plants using radioactive imaging and has published more than 70 papers on these topics, which have received more than 1,500 citations.
Scientific Reports
Experimental study
Not applicable
Highly sensitive positron imaging reveals short-term food distribution patterns in ant groups
26-Mar-2026
The authors declare no competing interests.