Caste (biology)
In some eusocial species, individuals of one species live together in colonies. These groups are often called nests or hives. Often there is a division of labour. In Hymenoptera,[1] for example, a hive may have several kinds of females, which by Polyphenism carry out different tasks, and whose bodies are different.
Such specialized types in one species are known as castes. Castes that are not involved in producing offspring are usually sterile. The term originally comes from the caste-system in Hinduism.
Caste (biology) Media
Co-operative brood rearing, seen here in honeybees, is a condition of eusociality.
Weaver ants, here collaborating to pull nest leaves together, can be considered eusocial, as they have a permanent division of labor.
A swarming meat-eater ant colony
Naked mole-rat, one of two eusocial species in the Phiomorpha
Blueish-Naked-Mole-Rat extracted-on-white-background
The snapping shrimp (Synalpheus fritzmuelleri), commonly found in hard-bottom sponges. Note the parasitic isopod attached to the carapace.
Termites_marked_with_traceable_protiens
Snodgrass Rhopalosiphum prunifoliae
- Platypodinae, pinhole borers, Size: 4.5 mm
Related pages
Notes
- ↑ Wasps, bees and ants