Worker bee
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A worker bee is any female bee that lacks the reproductive capacity of the colony's queen bee and carries out the majority of tasks needed for the functioning of the hive. While worker bees are presen
Worker bees (with queen)
The stinger of a black honeybee torn off its body and attached to a protecting dress
Eusociality
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Eusociality is the highest level of organization of sociality. It is defined by the following characteristics: cooperative brood care, overlapping generations within a colony of adults, and a division
Worker bee
…capacity of the colony's queen bee and carries out the majority of tasks needed for the functioning of the hive. While worker bees are present in all eusocial bee species, the term is rarely used (outside of scientific literature) for bees other than honey bees, particularly the European honey bee (Apis…
Co-operative brood rearing, seen here in honeybees, is a condition of eusociality.
Suzanne Batra introduced the term "eusocial" after studying nesting in Halictid bees including Halictus latisignatus, pictured.
Weaver ants, here collaborating to pull nest leaves together, can be considered eusocial, as they have a permanent division of labor.
Swarming Iridomyrmex purpureus ants. The young queens are black, winged, and much larger than the wingless workers.