Compared with the animal kingdom, fertilization is particularly complex in flowering plants
(angiosperms). Sperm cells of angiosperms have lost their motility and require transportation …

Termites are social insects that live in colonies headed by reproductive castes. The breeding
system is defined by the number of reproductive individuals in a colony and the castes to …

Division of labor is a prominent feature of social insect societies, where different castes
engage in different specialized tasks. As brain differences are associated with behavioral …

Overwintering is a critical part of the annual cycle for species that live in temperate, polar,
and alpine regions. Consequently, low-temperature biology is a key determinant of …

Society in eusocial insects is based on the reproductive division of labor, with a small
number of reproductive individuals supported by a large number of nonreproductive …

Reproductive division of labor is a hallmark of social insect societies where individuals
follow different developmental pathways resulting in distinct morphological castes. There …

One major advantage of sexual reproduction over asexual reproduction is its promotion of
genetic variation, although it reduces the genetic contribution to offspring. Queens of social …

Termites are known as social insects worldwide. Presently in China 473 species, 44 genera
and 4 families of termites have been reported. Of them, 111 Reticulitermes species are …

Many eusocial insects can distinguish nestmates from non-nestmate conspecifics, which
ensures that altruistic behavior is directed toward close relatives. In termites, however …

Although males are a ubiquitous feature of animals, they have been lost repeatedly in
diverse lineages. The tendency for obligate asexuality to evolve is thought to be reduced in …