Bivoltinism as an antecedent to eusociality in the paper wasp genus Polistes.
To learn the evolutionary trajectories of caste differentiation in eusocial species is a major goal of sociobiology. We present an explanatory framework for caste evolution in the eusocial wasp genus Polistes (Vespidae), which is a model system for insect eusocial evolution. We hypothesize that Polistes worker and gyne castes stem from two developmental pathways that characterized the bivoltine life cycle of a solitary ancestor. Through individual-based simulations, we show that our mechanistic framework can reproduce colony-level characteristics of Polistes and, thereby, that social castes can emerge from solitary regulatory pathways. Our explanatory framework illustrates, by specific example, a changed perspective for understanding insect social evolution.
Hunt
James H
JH
Department of Biology, University of Missouri-St. Louis, One University Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63121, USA. jimhunt@umsl.edu
Amdam
Gro V
GV
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008954:Models, Biological; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D012919:Social Behavior; D014863:Wasps / Q000502:physiology*