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James Traniello

Professor of Biology at Boston University

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  • Boston University

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    Biography

    Boston University

    Social insects are exemplars of biological complexity and are among the most evolutionarily successful and ecologically dominant animals on earth. The Traniello Lab studies the behavioral mechanisms and neural basis of social organization and the ecology and genetics of colonies and populations of social insects, with an emphasis on caste, division of labor and brain evolution. Darwin’s sense of wonder was excited by the ant brain’s capability of “extraordinary mental activity with an extremely small absolute mass of nervous matter.”  By exploring the neuroanatomy and neurochemistry of social behavior using immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography and pharmacological interventions to examine the regulation of task performance and behavioral development, the Lab seeks to understand the neural basis of social structure in light of ecology and evolution. Our integrative studies connect sociobiology, neurobiology and ecology to understand the selective forces associated with social brain evolution in ants, and how the brain meets the demands of processing complex information at the level of the individual and society as a whole. Current research centers on the hyperdiverse ant genus Pheidole, leaf-cutter ants and Australian weaver ants. We are also interested in social mechanisms of disease resistance and tropical ant diversity, behavior and ecology.

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    Cases

    Foxborough father may have been stung by ‘aggressive’ yellow jackets, experts say

    September 27, 2017

    The Boston Globe James Traniello Two biology professors who study bees speculate the Massachusetts man who died after being stung Saturday could have been attacked by yellow jackets… Expert quote: “If you were being attacked by either wasps or bees, the first thing you probably think of is a bee. I think that the likelihood of […]

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    Junkie Ants Show That Insects Can Be Addicts, Too

    September 21, 2016

    Smithsonian James Traniello, College of Arts & Sciences The temporary euphoria associated with opioids comes at a steep price: heroin, oxycodone, opium, morphine and other painkilling drugs are some of the highly addictive culprits fueling the drug epidemic that is sweeping America… Expert quote: “The results are very interesting, but perhaps not unusual given the […]

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    Spiky new ant species is named after Game of Thrones dragons

    July 27, 2016

    New Scientist James Traniello, College of Arts & Sciences This ant may look like a fearsome dragon, but it can be a shy little thing… Expert quote: “These ants that are being described are amazing. They’re absolutely beautiful.” View full article

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    Game of Ants: two new species named after Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons

    July 27, 2016

    The Guardian James Traniello, College of Arts & Sciences Two new ant species with spiny back barbs reminded scientists so much of the Khaleesi’s dragons they named them Pheidole drogon and Pheidole viserion… Expert quote: “It’s intriguing that these ants have such amazing spines, and interesting to consider that they may serve a function other […]

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    US Navy invests in bomb-tracking cyborg locusts

    July 7, 2016

    Christian Science Monitor James Traniello, College of Arts & Sciences Researchers seek to harness the locust’s acute sense of smell for potential military use… Expert quote: “I do think that insects could have advantages due to their small size, making them difficult to detect and more effective in entering spatially restrictive areas. Some insects fly, others […]

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    Do polygamous marriages among liberal arts disciplines produce better scientists?

    March 10, 2016

    The Conversation US By James Traniello, College of Arts & Sciences At a time when states are proposing to cut funding to nudge students away from the humanities toward “more job-friendly” STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects, I want to make a confession: I am the love child of an affair between academic worlds. […]

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    Some Ants Never Get Old

    February 5, 2016

    Discover Magazine James Traniello, College of Arts & Sciences It’s better to burn out than to fade away, according to Neil Young. And one ant species seems to embody this timeless philosophical advice… View full article quoting expert James Traniello  

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    When they’re not busy weaving leaves, these ants make great insecticides

    September 4, 2015

    Grist James Traniello, College of Arts & Sciences Humans have spent millions of dollars to develop the next best pesticide system, building smart technology like sensors, drones, and autonomous robots to more accurately spray pesticides on crops… Expert quote: “There’s a renaissance use of weaver ants as pest controllers and proteins, which are positive indicators, but how broad it […]

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    How social societies may play a role in insect brain size

    July 9, 2015

    WHYY Newsworks “The Pulse” James Traniello, College of Arts & Sciences Scientists have long been fascinated by how insects, tiny animals with even tinier brains, coordinate complex group actions… Expert quote: “Most people are aware that over the last 200,000 years, human brains have increased very dramatically.” View full article

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    Tracking whole colonies shows ants make career moves

    May 9, 2013

    Nature James Traniello, College of Arts & Sciences Because all the workers in an ant colony look the same, tracking their movements and interactions by eye is fiendishly difficult… View full article

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