In dueling ants vying to become queen, behavioral and molecular cues quickly determine who will win

In one species of ants, workers duel to establish new leadership after the death of their queen. While these sparring matches stretch for more than a month, changes in behavior and gene expression in the first three days of dueling can accurately predict who will triumph, according to a New York University study published in the journal Genes & Development.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210218151139.htm