Weak queen or social contract?
Article Abstract:
Beta queens in wasp societies exhibit increased aggression towards alpha queens when eggs are removed experimentally. Reeve and Nonacs interpret this as a social contract that has been broken, causing the betas to retaliate when they think that their eggs have been eaten by the alpha queen. The weak queen hypothesis suggests that aggressive displays are ways of establishing rank among queens during a period when hormones dictate increased egg-laying.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1993
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Eusociality in Australian gall thrips
Article Abstract:
Oncothrips tepperi Karny and O. habrus Mound defend the galls they inhabit against invasion by other thrips species. Soldier adults of these Australian gall thrips defend their mother and siblings within the gall, using their enlarged, armed forelegs. Observations of these thrips fighting off Koptothrips provides insight into the evolution of eusocial behavior and the selection pressures that caused it.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1992
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Facultative worker policing in a wasp
Article Abstract:
Multiple mating by the queen wasp Dolichovespula saxonica is found to result in mutual policing by workers, while single mating does not.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 2000
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