Why are bees and ants call public insects? Features of complex behavior of public insects: description. How public insects differ from single: comparison, similarities and differences

In this article, we will analyze the behavior of bees and ants, their differences and similarities.

Content

For some reason, the phrase “public insects” suggests that they belong to society. But, in fact, this name is obtained thanks to the structure and complexity of its behavior. Which insects are attributed to this group, and how they differ, will consider in this material.

What are public insects?

Who are insects, even a preschooler does not need an explanation. To make it clear who these public insects are, watch the ants. The most ordinary red forest or black garden insects. Pay attention to how beautifully and harmoniously they move in their anthill.

Therefore, one can note the first distinguishing feature of public insects - this the presence of families. They do not live one by one, but only in large groups. Moreover, each of the representatives has its own role in such a community.
Polyetism- This is the main feature of public insects. Simply put, this is a division of responsibilities.
The second distinguishing feature is the presence of castes According to sexual and reproductive functions. Public insects may have one uterus (that is, monoginia) or several breeding females ( polygyny). But this is reflected in the size of the masonry and size. Even the working individuals are smaller in size from such uterus.
- At the head of public insects is worth the uterus or queen, on the shoulders of which lies responsibility for propagation and offspring. The whole family with colonies is built around it.
- And for protection there are special soldiers! These representatives do not have the opportunity to multiply, but there is a weapon. Namely, strong stings in bees or powerful jaws in termites and ants.
- But someone should feed them too. And this duty falls on the shoulders work forcewhich also cannot produce its offspring. Incredibly, even workers are divided into subspecies depending on work.
That is why these insect groups are closely interconnected with each other. If at least one puzzle falls out, then the other part of the picture is lost. After all, some insects protect, others feed, and others care about offspring.

Important: different subspecies of even one type of insects can differ significantly by some rules.

Housing- Here is another difference. Yes, animals and insects are looking for a warm night for wintering. But only public insects build such complex and thought out to the smallest details. And how they care about their laying!
Such insects they can communicate. No, they do not have their own language. More precisely, it is a little peculiar. More often use the language of the body and its movements.
- Bees can dance! But this is not just a desire to warm up, so they report the location of Nectar.
- Ants use a sweet smell that is left along the necessary road. For example, after an edible find, the ant will leave such a trace to its anthill, telling this to its relatives.
But the greatest value is the connection between the uterus and its subordinates. This is a merit feromonov! In this structure, everything is insanely subtle. The fact is that this substance is distinguished by larvae. Thus, they report their hunger. But only the uterus can hear them!
- And only she tells her working forces that it is necessary to bring food supplies. What is there, it gives clear instructions on what food is needed and in what quantity. Without the queen, the rest of the representatives will simply die, because they do not know what to do!
- But there are also insects that have a chance to grow a new queen. True, this is a very painstaking and time -consuming process. A new uterus requires special growing conditions, that is, it requires special cells. And she is picky in food.

Now you can make the final and already justified conclusion who are social insects.

Public insects - These are representatives who lead a social or social lifestyle. As can be seen from the above information, they steps over the behavior of other insects and even compete well with the highest classes of the kingdom of animals. That is, social insects can create society. Therefore, the science that is studying them is sociobiology.

Features of complex behavior of public insects: Description

In such insects, the development of the brain and nervous system is observed. And this naturally affects the behavior of public insects, highlighting them among such loners.

Brain It depends directly on the diversity and mobility of the life of the insect. That is, the more active it is, the more developed and large in size the brain is obtained. For example, workers of ants and productive representatives. The latest insects have a smaller size of the brain.
Incredibly, but public insects can distinguish! For example, Australian ethologist Karl Frish conducted experiments on bees. As a result, it was found that they sit in bright colors.
This aspect is not fully studied, but insects can be far from their nest, but they will still find the way home. Experience was conducted with bumblebees, which in the boxes were placed at different distance from the house, they were necessarily marked with colored paint. By evening, all insects were in place.
They are not easy remember the way homebut also in search, for example, nectar goes out with a strictly thought out plan of action. For example, the bee focuses not only on a relief shape and bright color, but also on the quality of the smell.

Important: to communicate with each other, public insects use a whole chain of stimuli - these are auditory and visual contacts, chemical, vibrational and tactile stimuli.

These insects have memory and can transfer experience. For example, ants live 1.5-2.5 years and for them it bears an important value. Remember the cartoon "Luntik", ants always have a leader or commander!
- They distinguish those individuals that have good memory and rich experience in order to find a solution in the case of incidents. This is what the leader is doing. They act strictly along the laid route, but if an obstacle appears on the way, the activist will lead the others behind him, bypassing it.

Moreover, such insects can even think logically and find outputs From difficult situations. Experience was conducted (again on the ants), when a small dose of radiation (up to 10 r/h) was delivered to their nest. It lasted for 3 years. And in order to reduce the incoming dose, the ants laid the covered road.
In public insects, they are formed faster and develop conditional reflexes. This is another confirmation of the development of their memory and the ability to draw conclusions. They have such a divided and well -thought -out work of each representative that requires certain skills. And this indicates a good ability to learn.
- They have a goal and move to its implementation! Their work is so sweet that they easily compete even with higher animals. Even a person can get some skills for himself.
They have incredible caring for the offspring. The uterus devotes himself and his whole life, caring for them. And in case of urgent need and threats to offspring, she, without hesitation, will sacrifice herself.
- Look even again at the anthill, they do not leave their cocoons close to the entrance, but lower them to other floors. If the house is in danger, they will take out the first thing they are!

Important: in public insects there is a chain of complex reflexes that are responsible for their instinct.

In addition to memory, the ability to memorize and think, as well as draw logical conclusions, among species of even one family of insects, there are “stupid” and “smart” individuals.
It is also worth highlighting such a quality of public insects as storage. That ants, that bees make food supplies.
And that’s not all, because they are able to share it among themselves. Yes, this is the result of organized work in Caste. But this is also a kind of concern for the surrounding family members.

Some visual examples.

Ants

They are able to conclude "Friendship Pact". Their connection with the aphids is known. Ants protect it and provide some fresh shoots for their nutrition, and also care about wintering. But for this they collect their sweet excrement for their nutrition. This is somewhat reminiscent of cattle breeding.
But there are ants who are engaged agriculture. For example, leaf troops tolerate disputes of some mushrooms along with leaves of leaves. They plant them in an anthill, and then eat them.
But the tropical amazon ants take into slavery other insects. More precisely, they steal their eggs or tiny individuals. And from these cubs they grow labor. Such behavior is observed in other types of ants. By the way, they can attack neighboring anthills.
And some types of ants, for example foragers, have pension. Yes, over time, they are from active representatives to passive observers. But then they convey the collected traditions and experience to the young generation. And in case of devastation, pensioners are able to restore everything again.

Wasp

Wallwoods show interesting behavior during the rain. The fact is that their house is covered with aspen paper through which water drops pass. Therefore, insects absorb it, and then spit it out.
But the wasps are warden heat your masonry The movements of the abdomen. They begin to dance, as if performing a belly dance. And thus, the temperature can increase by a whole degree.

Termites

They can be called real architects. At least their work seems chaotic and united, but the result will delight the eye. After all, their buildings have not only a simple shape, but can be in the form of arches, canopies or entire corridors. And do not forget that the termites are completely blind, so they carry out their projects purely with the help of instincts.
Some of their species are capable of self -destruction. If they attacked the working individual, then it can literally explode. In this case, the enemy will be attacked by sticky mucus. It is not dangerous, but carries a distracting character.

Bees

They surprise not only their dance, but also the presence of emotions. Even through dance movements, they are able to indicate exactly where the food supply is. And also show your character.
And many of their working representatives die as a result of the protection of their colony. After all, they leave a sting in the body of the enemy, after which they die with him.

Bumblebees

Among these representatives there are “cuckoos”. The fact is that such types of insects throw their eggs into another laying. Of course, they choose other families of bumblebees, not a colony of ants. Insects-duck insects do not have their workers. Children are growing in the "foster" family, along with other cubs on a par.

How public insects differ from single: comparison, similarities and differences

Based on the above material, one accurate conclusion can already be made - single insects live separately, but public representatives are only large families. Similar characteristics include food production, the need for it, as well as protecting the territory and their offspring. It is impossible not to note that other insects use a sound signal or gestures to communicate in the wedding period. It’s just that public insects have a little advanced.

But none of them can survive himself. The role of each “member” of the family is so thought out and organized that it acts as a missing puzzle. And without it, a whole picture will not work. For example, bees build families up to 60 thousand - 100 thousand individuals.
And therefore, such a large community is able to build a large house. For example, some anthills can reach several meters in depth (according to some reports even up to 10 m). And which termitects are found in nature, that this is not possible for a single power. The highest termitects reached 9 m.
These houses increase the safety of not only adults, but cubs and masonry. Single types of such concern for offspring are not observed. Public insects have a future generation, as well as food supplies are generally in the first place.
In this huge house, where each road, descent or honeycomb is thought out, temperature and humidity are also regulated. Again, everything to maintain optimal masonry conditions. But only public insects can create a similar microclimate due to its large quantities.

There are also differences in the behavior and life of insects

Such a family can attack a lot of prey, and this will help make a significant supply of food.
Ground work helps public insect defend itself from enemies. Single representatives are weaker in this matter.
Well, the main difference is polymorphism. That is, the presence of a uterus that is engaged only in offspring. The queen is engaged only in masonry. Although, for example, in some types of termites, the uterus is not even able to move independently. This protects it as much as possible from any dangers, providing greater birth rate.

What insects can and cannot be attributed to public?

It is easier to name those representatives who can belong to public insects. Everyone else, if they do not have the above characteristics of social life, are attributed to a number of single individuals.

Ants - Almost all of their species relate to public insects. They bring great benefits to the forest, protecting it from enemies. Characterized by large anthills, which consist of the ground and underground part
- In the center is a wingless uterus (it loses its wings after the wedding period) and all her life is only engaged in laying eggs.
- Working representatives clean the masonry, uterus and bring her food.
- Soldiers stand out in large sizes and powerful jaws, the task of which is to protect the colony.
Bees They have only one uterus, which controls them. They have no soldiers, but there are drones who are engaged in fertilization of the uterus. After mating, they die. All work, including feeding the uterus, lies on the shoulders of workers.
Wasponly one summer live. Only fertilized females remain wintering. They also use housing for only one year, they build it from wood and their own saliva.
Bumblebees They have the same signs of social life. But it is worth highlighting that the sting can be not only among the working individuals, but also the uterus. By the way, it does not have Zazubrin, so insects can use it many times.
Termites They live in termitects, and their family can count up to 1 million individuals. The uterus of this species can live up to 10 years, and workers differ in that both sexes can be. Their main task is the order in the "House".

Public insects have 5 species — Public insects have 5 main types

There are some characteristic signs of social behavior in the following insects:

earrings - they are characterized by female care for the offspring
bugs that live in large families
and even in aphids who are in contact with ants
crickets and Japanese bugs bring food for their larvae
the greatest social degree of life among tripps. They also build families up to almost 200 thousand individuals, lay paths with a characteristic smell and take care of their masonry

Important: only ants are completely related to the social group. All other insects belong to the class of webding insects. Since they are characterized by all transitions from a single lifestyle to social behavior.