Table of contents | |
Introduction | |
Social Life in Termites | |
Social Structure of a Bee Colony | |
Social Organization in Wasps | |
Ant Societies |
In the insect world, social life has only evolved significantly in two orders: Isoptera (termites) and Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, and ants). These insects form nests and live in colonies characterized by division of labor and intricate social interactions.
Termites, evolving approximately 300 million years ago, pioneered colony living and developed a sophisticated social system. Despite their small size (3-4 mm), termite colonies exhibit remarkable organization.
The termite queen, an astonishing 4-inch giant, lies motionless in a royal chamber. Incapable of moving due to small legs, the queen relies on workers for all daily activities. Remarkably, the queen lays eggs at a staggering rate of two per second, amounting to 6,000 to 7,000 eggs per day. Their lifespan spans 15 to 20 years.
Bee colonies, exemplified by remarkable order, exhibit a population ranging from 40,000 to 80,000 individuals during spring and honey flow periods.
The queen, larger than workers, secretes a pheromone called "queen substance" to maintain colony cohesion. In multiqueen colonies, emerging queens engage in lethal competition, with the survivor assuming leadership.
Wasps, belonging to the Vespidae family, exhibit diverse nesting habits and social structures among their approximately 75,000 species.
Ants, distinguished by their tireless work ethic, represent a highly developed social system, second only to humans.
Ant colonies range from a few thousand to over 500,000 individuals. Their nests, called formicaria, exhibit various designs.
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