Date: March 9, 2016
Source: North Carolina State
University
Research from North
Carolina State University finds that among eusocial insects -- like ants, bees
and termites -- the more individuals there are in a typical species colony, the
weaker the species' immune response. The finding strongly suggests that hygiene
behaviors, and not just immune systems, play a key role in keeping eusocial
insects healthy.
Eusocial insects live in
groups. And living at close quarters with many other individuals would appear
to increase their risk of contracting disease. Yet eusocial insects are
incredibly successful, raising the question of how they are able to thrive.
The "social group
hypothesis," argues that the eusocial lifestyle has given eusocial insects
stronger immune systems. A second hypothesis, the "relaxed selection
hypothesis," argues that eusocial insects have evolved specific behaviors
that reduce the risk of disease transmission.
"We wanted to test
the social group hypothesis to see which of these hypotheses was
accurate," says Margarita López-Uribe, a postdoctoral researcher at NC
State and lead author of a paper on the work.
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