Ecology and Evolution of Communication in Social Insects

• Published in: Cell Vol. 164; no. 6; pp. 1277 - 1287
• Main Authors: Leonhardt, Sara Diana, Menzel, Florian, Nehring, Volker, Schmitt, Thomas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 10.03.2016
• Subjects: Animal Communication; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Biological Evolution; Insecta - classification; Insecta - genetics; Insecta - physiology; Pheromones - metabolism
• ISSN: 0092-8674; 1097-4172
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.01.035

Insect life strategies comprise all levels of sociality from solitary to eusocial, in which individuals form persistent groups and divide labor. With increasing social complexity, the need to communicate a greater diversity of messages arose to coordinate division of labor, group cohesion, and concerted actions. Here we summarize the knowledge on prominent messages in social insects that inform about reproduction, group membership, resource locations, and threats and discuss potential evolutionary trajectories of each message in the context of social complexity. Insect life strategies comprise all levels of sociality from solitary to eusocial, in which individuals form persistent groups and divide labor. With increasing social complexity, the need to communicate a greater diversity of messages arose to coordinate division of labor, group cohesion, and concerted actions. Here we summarize the knowledge on prominent messages in social insects that inform about reproduction, group membership, resource locations, and threats and discuss potential evolutionary trajectories of each message in the context of social complexity.