The Evolution and Development of Eusocial Insect Behavior

In this chapter, the authors look at social insects within an evolutionary developmental biology perspective. With this approach, it is possible to study behavioral development and evolution in a variety of species to understand how social behaviors evolved from solitary ancestral states. By treating behavioral traits as modules, similar to modules described in morphological development, insight can be gained into how gene regulatory networks were rearranged during evolution. Eusociality is found in several insect taxa, but the best-studied groups are in the order Hymenoptera that includes bees, ants, and wasps. The majority of recent advancements in understanding the evolution of development in social insect behavioral evolution occurred in Hymenopterans, and thus, they provide the focus of this text. Research into eusocial insect evolution and development is advancing at a fast pace. This progress has stimulated new ideas and models for how altruistic behaviors have evolved.