Social Insects

Introduction

• Certain insect species, such as bees, wasps, ants, and termites, have developed complex social behaviour that involves close cooperation among colony members in caring for their young.
• In these insect societies, individuals are differentiated into distinct groups or castes with specific roles and responsibilities.

Castes in Social Insects

• Reproductive Caste: This caste consists of a queen (a fertile adult female) and drones (fertile adult males). Their primary role is reproduction to populate the colony.
• Worker Caste: The worker caste comprises sterile individuals that perform various essential tasks for the colony, including:
  • Feeding and Caring for Eggs and Larvae
  • Finding and Gathering Food
  • Building and Repairing the Nest or Hive
  • Defending the Colony

Examples of Worker Behaviours

• Honey Bees: Honey bees collect pollen to feed the colony. They use a unique communication method called a waggle dance to indicate the direction and distance of a food source from the hive.
• Ants and Termites: Workers in ant and termite colonies may develop into distinct body types to fulfil specific roles. For instance, some workers may have larger heads and mandibles and act as soldiers to defend the colony.
• Honeypot Ants: Certain honeypot ants have swollen abdomens that can store large quantities of food. They serve as living food reservoirs, regurgitating the stored food to feed other colony members during times of scarcity.

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Social Insects

Summary

• Social insects, including bees, wasps, ants, and termites, exhibit complex social behaviours characterised by castes with specific roles.
• The reproductive caste comprises the queen and drones responsible for reproduction, while the worker caste consists of sterile individuals performing various tasks vital for the colony's survival and success.
• Worker behaviours vary among different social insect species and may include foraging, communication, defence, and food storage to benefit the colony as a whole.