Queen naked mole-rat suppresses reproduction in rivals via a skin chemical

Queen naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber) produce isopropyl myristate, a low-volatility ester detected and avoided by high-ranking females in the colony. The chemical alters prolactin and progesterone levels in other females, suppressing their reproduction and preserving the eusocial hierarchy. This is the first identified chemical mechanism of eusocial reproductive control in a mammal.