Reproductive Strategies in Insect Societies: Understanding the Complexity Can Lead to Better Management of Pests & Beneficials

By Claudia Husseneder and Qian Sun, LSU AgCenter

Colonies constructed by social insects (bees, wasps, ants and termites) resemble human societies in many aspects. The ability of individuals to work together in a social organization and accomplish tasks far exceeding the capabilities of a single individual is one of the most amazing phenomena in nature.