Repeated evolution of soldier sub-castes suggests parasitism drives social complexity in stingless bees
Although common in ants and termites, worker differentiation into physical castes is rare in social bees and unknown in wasps. Here, Grüter and colleagues find a guard caste in ten species of stingless bees and show that the evolution of the guard caste is associated with parasitization by robber be...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | article |
| Language: | EN |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2017
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doaj.org/article/91ad03c7847246bfaef692e9a245095d |
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| Summary: | Although common in ants and termites, worker differentiation into physical castes is rare in social bees and unknown in wasps. Here, Grüter and colleagues find a guard caste in ten species of stingless bees and show that the evolution of the guard caste is associated with parasitization by robber bees. |
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