A Nature study found naked mole-rat queens uniquely emit isopropyl myristate, a compound that temporarily makes other females infertile and helps preserve the colony’s single-breeder system.
Tests on 351 animals showed the chemical was essentially queen-specific, strongest in vaginal, anal and mouth secretions, and highest around ovulation—linking it directly to reproduction.
Daily spraying of isopropyl myristate on non-breeding female-male pairs prevented pregnancies, while nearly all untreated females conceived; the compound also raised prolactin and lowered progesterone.
Queen-removal experiments showed the scent also suppresses succession fights: added isopropyl myristate kept high-ranking females peaceful, but battles resumed once spraying stopped.
The findings challenge the long-standing bullying theory and point to a rare mammalian equivalent of insect queen pheromones, suggesting smell may regulate social order more broadly in mammals.