Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are constantly dealing with threats from pathogens, pests,
pesticides and poor nutrition. It is critically important to understand how honey bees' natural …

The evolution of eusociality is a perennial issue in evolutionary biology, and genomic
advances have fueled steadily growing interest in the genetic changes underlying social …

The study of parasitism in socially living organisms shows that social group size correlates
with the risk of infection, but group structure–and thus differences in contact networks–is …

The parasitic mite Varroa destructor is a serious threat for western honey bee colonies and
beekeepers are compelled to control it to keep their colonies healthy. Yet, by controlling …

Understanding the complexities of social insect immunity, that is, how insects combat
pathogens, parasites and pests, is a fundamental question that not only has broad …

In a rapidly changing environment, honeybee colonies are increasingly exposed to diverse
sources of stress (eg, new parasites, pesticides, climate warming), which represent a …

Wood ants fight pathogens by incorporating tree resin with antimicrobial properties into their
nests. They also produce large quantities of formic acid in their venom gland, which they …

The evolutionary success of hymenopteran insects has been associated with complex
physiological and behavioral defense mechanisms against pathogens and parasites …

The hygienic behavior of honey bee workers contributes to the social immunity of colonies.
The ability of workers to detect and remove unhealthy or dead brood prevents the …

Social insect societies are long-standing models for understanding social behaviour and
evolution. Unlike other advanced biological societies (such as the multicellular body), the …