Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology

Researchers from our Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis , including Ryan Alam, Danny Kessler, and Tobias Köllner, found that the oil beetle's parasitic larvae mimic floral scent to attract bees, allowing them to sneak into their nests. This is the first example of an animal mimicking flower odors to manipulate an ecological interaction https://www.ice.mpg.de/563251/PR_Alam

Ahmed R Ismaieel and Sonja Bisch-Knaden from our Lepidopteran Neuroethology Group (Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology describe in a new paper in the Journal of Experimental Biology that Manduca sexta moths also use their wings to smell. https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/229/14/jeb253062/372156/Tobacco-hawkmoth-wings-have-a-sense-of-smell

After years of groundbreaking research, the ERC funded EPIDEMIC project at our institute has officially concluded, but its impact is just beginning.
Led by Yuko Ulrich, leader of our Lise Meitner Group Social Behavior, the project used clonal raider ants — which are genetically identical, queenless, and ideal for isolating social dynamics — to explore a fundamental question: How do social behaviors shape disease risk in group-living organisms?
Using automated tracking, custom software, and controlled infection experiments, the team uncovered key insights: Foraging ants acquired infections earlier and at higher loads than nest-bound nurses, despite their identical genetics. Infected ants reduced outside activity, as did healthy ones, leading to increased clustering. Instead of avoiding sick nestmates, healthy ants increased grooming and contact — a "caring" strategy that may promote transmission.
These findings challenge assumptions about social immunity and highlight the critical role of behavioral variation in disease spread, a factor that is often overlooked in epidemiological models.
While the project ends, the science continues. Yuko Ulrich and her lab are now diving into the chemical cues of infection and pathogen-specific responses. This work bridges ecology, behavior, and public health, offering new perspectives on how social systems, from ant colonies to human communities, respond to infectious threats.

Investigating the social determinants of disease risk Experimental research with clonal raider ants reveals the social dynamics of disease transmission.,,,European Commission

Nature is flourishing on the Beutenberg Campus in Jena! Since 2024, the research institutes have focused on reducing the frequency of mowing, rotating mowing areas, and preserving untouched refuges. These changes have created a diverse habitat that benefits people, plants, and animals alike. In June, the bee orchid (Ophrys apifera) could be admired in the campus meadows. Rare and endangered insect species were spotted as well, including the narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth (Hemaris tityus), one of the few diurnal hawk-moth species classified as "critically endangered" in Germany, and the European oil beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus), which is also considered endangered.
Staff members at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology identified 47 different plant species in the mapped areas. During the annual insect monitoring in June, they identified 120 insect species in a single morning. Mowing less frequently benefits not only species diversity but also the employees at the Beutenberg Campus. This is because it creates a vibrant and diverse habitat for many different species, as well as for the people who work there.
https://www.ice.mpg.de/561217/biodiversity_concept

We are thrilled to announce that Matilde Florean, a former doctoral researcher in the Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis at our institute, has been awarded the Otto Hahn Medal by Max Planck Society today at the annual meeting of the society in Frankfurt. With this award, the Max Planck Society recognizes one of the most outstanding doctoral theses of the past year: Matilde Florean’s groundbreaking research on the convergent evolution of the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites in plants using benzoxazinoids as a model system. The award recognizes outstanding scientific achievements by early-career researchers during their doctoral studies and supports emerging talent. Congratulations, Matilde!
https://www.ice.mpg.de/558167/otto-hahn-medal-matilde-florean

Researchers from the Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona, Institut de Biologia Evolutiva - IBE: CSIC - Universitat Pompeu Fabra, and our Department of Insect Symbiosis, including Andrés Brunetti and Martin Kaltenpoth, have discovered UV-induced blue-green biofluorescence in the fire salamander. Under ultraviolet light, the salamander exhibits distinctive fluorescent patterns. It emits a bright turquoise-blue glow primarily from its underside and sides, as well as from its skin secretions. The pattern aligns precisely with its glandular structures. Compounds in the salamander’s blood and granular glands also glow, suggesting a systemic distribution of fluorescent molecules, a rare trait previously only known in tree frogs. The ecological relevance still unclear: The fluorescent glow may serve a communicative function and be involved in courtship, migration, or predator warning.
https://www.ice.mpg.de/557727/PR_Burriel_Brunetti

Our vibrant international crew of 24 ran strong for “Max Planck!” at the Jenaer Firmenlauf 2026!
But our mission went beyond the race. On the German Diversity Day, we also ran for Weltoffenes Thüringen – because Thuringia deserves to be a place where everyone feels welcome, valued, and safe. This wasn't just about speed; it was about solidarity, visibility, and saying "NO" to right-wing extremism and "YES" to tolerance and openness.
Massive shoutout to our amazing team for making our message seen! Let's keep building a more inclusive Thuringia together.

Congratulations to Ute Hellmich! The Max Planck Society awarded her a Max Planck Fellowship, giving her the opportunity to lead her own small research group on Signaling Dynamics at our institute for the next five years, in addition to her professorship at . We are happy to have her as a Max Planck Fellow and look forward to intensifying our collaboration with her.
https://www.ice.mpg.de/556225/ute-hellmich-becomes-max-planck-fellow

Are you a master's student passionate about insects, smells, and discovery? Do you want to delve into the invisible realm of chemical signals that influence insect behavior and uncover the potential of controlling invasive fruit flies through their sense of smell? We are offering a hands-on master's thesis project studying how flies respond to complex odors in nature, and you could join the research team.

Immerse yourself in the fields of chemical ecology and behavior, as well as real-world pest research, in Jena, Germany.

Apply now:

Master’s Thesis Opportunity in Chemical Ecology The Max Planck Society is one of Europe's leading research organizations and conducts basic research in the natural sciences, life sciences, and humanities. The Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena carries out fundamental research on how organisms communicate with each other via chemica...

Anlässlich des Zukunftstags wurde unser Institut heute zum Jugendlabor: Schülerinnen und Schüler waren eingeladen, im Rahmen von drei spannenden Workshops Forschung hautnah zu erleben. Dabei wurde mikroskopiert, um zu sehen, wie kleinste Strukturen in Pflanzen und Insekten sichtbar gemacht werden können. Außerdem konnten die Jugendlichen ausprobieren, wie sich die geheimen Inhaltsstoffe von Pflanzen mittels verschiedener Methoden entdecken lassen. Als Sinnesentdecker:innen konnten sie sich schließlich wie Insekten auf eine Duftspur begeben.
Unser Ziel ist es, junge Menschen für die Forschung zu begeistern – mit Experimenten, Neugier und "Aha!“-Momenten im Labor.
Ein herzliches Dankeschön an alle Teilnehmenden, Helferinnen und das engagierte Team, die dieses spannende Erlebnis möglich gemacht haben!
Wer weiß – vielleicht haben wir heute die Forschenden von morgen erlebt, die die nächste große Entdeckung machen werden?