Social Behavior 1

1
Social Behavior - 1

• Introduction and Termites

2
These Groups of Insects Demonstrate Eusocial
Behavior

• Order Isoptera
• Termites
• Order Hymenoptera
• Ants
• Wasps
• Bees

3
What Attributes Must a Group of Insects Have in
Order to Be Considered Eusocial?
4
Major Characteristics - 1

• Extensive use of pheromones
• Coordinated defense of colony
• Communication between castes, recognition of nest
  mates
• Post embryonic develop. and adult physiol.
• Regulation of number of individuals in different
  castes and genders

5
Major Characteristics - 2

• Caste System and caste polyethism or
  caste-specific behavior
• Discovery and efficient exploitation of resources
  such as food and nesting sites
• Nest homeostasis control over internal nest
  environment (humidity, temp., etc.)
• Trophallaxis sharing of hormones thru oral and
  anal grooming
• Overlapping of generations and transfer of nest
  and accumulated resources to the next gen.

6
Mechanisms Promoting the Evolution of Social
Behavior

• Mutualism
• Parental manipulation
• Kin Selection or Altruistic behavior
• Coefficient of Genetic Relationship

7
Termites
8
Biology of Termites

• Incomplete metamorphosis young thus participate
  in work of the colony
• Have castes of both sexes
• Castes primary and supplementary reproductives,
  workers, soldiers and nasuti
• Both sexes are diploid

9
Life History of Termites (Ex. is Subterranean
Termite)

• Males and females leave colony in early fall
• Find a small hole, break off wings and reproduce
• New queen controls composition of a small,
  initial colony
• Trophallaxis spread of chemical communicators
  and mutualistic Protozoa
• Colony grows slowly and all castes are
  represented
• Colonies live for potentially many years huge
  termite mounds, especially in Africa

10
African Termite Mounds
11
Termite Queen With Attendants
12
Termite Workers
13
Winged Reproductive
14
Termite Soldiers
Note Allometric Growth
15
Generalized Termite Life Cycle
16
FINIS