title: Social evolution: reincarnation, free-riding and inexplicable modes of reproduction.
abstract: We like to believe that human societies are the most complex in the animal kingdom, with intricate family structures and a unique repertoire of sophisticated social interactions. A new study reveals an insect society so complex that we are forced to reconsider our role as conquerors of complexity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK. Seirian.Sumner@ioz.ac.uk
authors.forename: Seirian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sumner
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010312:Parthenogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D012919:Social Behavior