Commentary: Extrinsic versus Intrinsic Factors in the Evolution of Insect Sociality

Abstract

Extrinsic factors, most notably the pressure of parasites and predators, are believed to have played a major role in the evolution of sociality in Hymenoptera by way of communal nests and dominance interactions. Intrinsic factors, such as the ability to control the sex and amount of food fed to offspring, must also be considered, as must the role of kin selection. However, the importance of the unusual relationships of offspring imposed by haplodiploidy has yet to be convincingly demonstrated.