Insect societies with a single reproducing female and nonreproductive workers describe which animal behavioral group?

Insect societies with a single reproducing female and nonreproductive workers describe which animal behavioral group?

• A. Pack of wolves
• B. School of fish
• C. Herd of cattle
• D. Colony of bees

Answer: (D)

Eusociality is the concept here: a form of social organization with a reproductive division of labor, cooperative brood care, and overlapping generations. In insect colonies that show eusociality, there is typically a single reproducing female—the queen—who lays most or all the eggs, while nonreproductive workers, usually sterile females, handle foraging, nest maintenance, and caring for the young. This division of labor and the presence of a dedicated reproducer define the colony structure seen in bees, ants, and similar insects. Bees exemplify this clearly: a hive is organized around one queen whose offspring are cared for by worker bees, with drones existing mainly to mate. The other options describe broader social groupings—wolves, fish, and cattle lack a true reproductive division of labor with sterile worker castes—so they don’t fit the description.

Eusociality is the concept here: a form of social organization with a reproductive division of labor, cooperative brood care, and overlapping generations. In insect colonies that show eusociality, there is typically a single reproducing female—the queen—who lays most or all the eggs, while nonreproductive workers, usually sterile females, handle foraging, nest maintenance, and caring for the young. This division of labor and the presence of a dedicated reproducer define the colony structure seen in bees, ants, and similar insects. Bees exemplify this clearly: a hive is organized around one queen whose offspring are cared for by worker bees, with drones existing mainly to mate. The other options describe broader social groupings—wolves, fish, and cattle lack a true reproductive division of labor with sterile worker castes—so they don’t fit the description.