Life histories and parasite pressure across the major groups of social insects.

Abstract

The differences in ecology between the obligatory perennial ants and termites, and the annual bees and wasps are discussed. The extent to which non-uniform loads of parasites and diseases can be explained by the differences in ecology and life history among these four major groups of social insects is also discussed. An updated analysis of comparative data and an explicit life history framework for comparing insect societies that differ in colony longevity (annual vs. perennial), nest building (mud, paper or wax vs. galleries in the soil or in wood), and the mode and range of foraging (flying vs. walking, and the concomitant range overlap between colonies) is presented.