stigmergy
n.— «La coordination des tâches, la régulation des constructions ne dépendent pas directement des ouvriers, mais des constructions elles-mêmes. L’ouvrier ne dirige pas son travail, il est guidé par lui. C’est à cette stimulation d’un type particulier que nous donnons le nom de stigmergie (stigma: piqûre, ergon : travail, oeuvre = oeuvre stimulante.» —“La reconstruction du nid et les coordinations inter-individuelles chez Belicositermes natalensis et Cubitermes sp. La théorie de la Stigmergie: Essai d” by Pierre-Paul Grassé Insectes Sociaux , 1959. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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