I came accross http://www.nature.com/news/return-of-the-super-ants-1.9746 this morning, and it reminded me of a sci-fi story that I read a few years ago, but I can’t come up with the name or the author. I’m hoping the #hivemind (never more appropriately named than here, I think) can help.
The story concerns a pair of researchers studying what appears to be a completely non-sentient insectile alien species that lives in what is clearly a technologically hollowed-out and otherwise modified small body in deep space. They figure out that by using pheromone analogs they can control the behavior of the individuals, but inadvertently trigger an Important Atavistic Change in the colony.
Does this ring any bells for anyone?
A Pun Involving Travel 
no it doesn’t
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