Unit_2.2.2_Eusocial_Insects

Eusocial Insects

A classification of insects that live in complex social structures with cooperative brood care and division of labor.

Hymenoptera

An order of insects that includes ants, bees, and wasps, many of which are eusocial.

Isoptera

An order of insects commonly known as termites; they are eusocial and known for their colony behavior.

Hemiptera

An order of insects that includes true bugs and thrips; some species exhibit eusocial behavior.

Workers

Non-reproductive members of a eusocial insect colony that perform tasks such as foraging and caring for the young.

Soldier

A specialized worker in some eusocial insect colonies whose primary role is defense.

Coleoptera

An order of insects also known as beetles; some may exhibit eusocial traits.

Reproductives

Members of a eusocial insect colony that are responsible for reproduction, typically including queens and males.

Queens

Female reproductive individuals in a eusocial insect colony that lay eggs.

Alates

Winged reproductive individuals that leave the colony to mate and establish new colonies.

Drones

Male reproductive individuals in a eusocial insect colony, often involved in mating with the queen.

Kings

Male reproductive counterparts in certain eusocial insect colonies, also responsible for mating.

Apis mellifera

The scientific name for the European honey bee, a well-studied eusocial insect.

Colony Structure

The social organization within a eusocial insect colony, including the roles of reproductives, workers, and soldiers.

Repletes

Specialized worker ants that store food in their bodies to feed the colony.

Phragmotics

A term used to describe certain ants that have morphologies adapted for defense and brood care.

Eusociality

A social structure characterized by cooperative brood care, overlapping generations, and division of labor.

Cooperative brood care

The behavior in eusocial insects where individuals help care for offspring that are not their own.

Division of labor

The allocation of different tasks to different individuals in a eusocial colony to improve efficiency.

Insect colony

A group of eusocial insects that live together, work together, and cooperate for the colony's survival.

Foraging

The process by which worker insects search for and gather food resources for the colony.

Defense

The act of protecting the colony from predators or threats, often performed by soldier castes.

Mating flight

The event in which alates leave the colony to mate, often resulting in the establishment of new colonies.

Brood care

The nurturing and protection of eggs and larvae within an insect colony.

Castes

Different forms or roles within a eusocial insect colony, such as queens, workers, and soldiers.

Complex social structures

Advanced societal organization in eusocial insects leading to collaborative living and maintenance.

Insect orders

Taxonomic classifications that categorize insects based on shared characteristics; relevant orders include Hymenoptera, Isoptera, and Hemiptera.

Traits of eusocial insects

Characteristics that define eusocial insects, such as permanent societies, specialized castes, and generation overlap.

Division of reproductive roles

The separation of duties between reproductive and non-reproductive members in eusocial colonies.