eusocial
Insect colony structure
Eusocial describes the highest level of animal social organization, characterized by cooperative care of young, overlapping generations living together, and division of labor with some individuals forgoing reproduction.
Honeybees, ants, and termites are the classic eusocial insects—workers sacrifice their own breeding to serve the colony.
The naked mole-rat is a rare eusocial mammal.
Eusocial species exhibit remarkable collective behavior.
Small colonial insect
- beeStinging nectar gatherer
- termiteWood-devouring social insect
- waspNarrow-bodied stinging insect
- naked mole ratHairless burrowing African rodent
queen · worker · drone · soldier · larva · pupa · brood · nest
Inherited social division
- queenMost powerful chess piece
- workerPerson who toils
- droneUnmanned flying machine
- soldierArmed forces member
reproductive · division of labor · hierarchy · colony · superorganism · alloparenting
Prioritizing others' wellbeing
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
- nest buildingAssembling a shelter for young
- thermoregulationMaintaining stable internal heat
defense · swarming · alarm response · grooming · food sharing · self-sacrifice
Behavior-altering bodily secretion
- alarm signalWarning of danger
- recruitmentSeeking new personnel
- vibrationRapid oscillating movement
- scent markingDepositing odor for communication
State of being connected
- genetic predispositionInherited increased likelihood
- sociobiologyStudy of inherited social behaviors
- E.O. WilsonBiologist of social insects
ant
Small colonial insect
naked mole rat · queen · worker · drone · soldier · larva · pupa · brood · nest · hive
caste
Inherited social division
soldier · reproductive · division of labor · hierarchy · colony · superorganism · alloparenting
altruism
Prioritizing others' wellbeing
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
- nest buildingAssembling a shelter for young
thermoregulation · defense · swarming · alarm response · grooming · food sharing · self-sacrifice
pheromone
Behavior-altering bodily secretion
- alarm signalWarning of danger
- recruitmentSeeking new personnel
- vibrationRapid oscillating movement
relatedness
State of being connected
- genetic predispositionInherited increased likelihood
- sociobiologyStudy of inherited social behaviors
- E.O. WilsonBiologist of social insects
eusocialsolitary
Existing alone, apart
independent · lone · isolated · autonomous · self-sufficient
social, society, antisocial, socialize, socially, unsocial, sociability, societal, socialite