Insect life strategies comprise all levels of sociality from solitary to eusocial, in which
individuals form persistent groups and divide labor. With increasing social complexity, the …

The body surface of nearly all insects, including ants, is covered with a lipid layer that largely
consists of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHC). They fulfil several functions, the two best-studied …

Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) cover the cuticles of virtually all insects, serving as a
waterproofing agent and as a communication signal. The causes for the high CHC variation …

The effects of heterogeneity in group composition remain a major hurdle to our
understanding of collective behavior across disciplines. In social insects, division of labor …

Division of labor (DOL) is a characteristic trait of insect societies, where tasks are generally
performed by specialized individuals. Inside workers focus on brood or nest care, while …

Social insect colonies are often considered to be highly efficient collective systems, with
division of labor at the root of their ecological success. However, in many species, a large …

Division of labor and task specialization explain the success of human and insect societies.
Social insect colonies are characterized by division of labor, with workers specializing in …

Organisms from temperate zones are exposed to seasonal changes and must be able to
cope with a wide range of climatic conditions. Especially ectotherms, including insects, are …

Terrestrial arthropods achieve waterproofing by a layer of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs). At
the same time, CHCs also serve as communication signals. To maintain waterproofing …

Studies of eusocial insects have extensively investigated two components of task allocation:
how individuals distribute themselves among different tasks in a colony and how the …