Question

Shared nest and cooperative brood care is found in

• A. Eusocial insects
• B. Quasi social insects
• C. Semi social insects
• D. Sub social insects

Hint:

Remember the progression of social behavior: - Communal = Shared nest.
- Quasi-social = Shared nest + Cooperative care.
- Semi-social = Shared nest + Cooperative care + Caste division.
- Eusocial = Shared nest + Cooperative care + Caste division + Overlapping generations.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Insect sociality is classified into distinct categories based on three main criteria: 1. Shared nest site (communal living).
2. Cooperative care of the young (brood care).
3. Reproductive division of labor (sterile worker castes) and overlapping generations.
Detailed Explanation:
Let us review the definitions of each social category:
- Subsocial: Parents provide some care to their own young, but do not share nests cooperatively.
- Communal: Females of the same generation share a nest, but each cares only for her own brood.
- Quasi-social (B): Females of the same generation share a common nest and engage in cooperative brood care, but there is no reproductive division of labor (all females are fertile and lay eggs).
- Semi-social (C): Females of the same generation share a nest and cooperate in brood care, and show a reproductive division of labor (castes), but generations do not overlap.
- Eusocial (A): Shows all three traits, including overlapping generations where offspring assist parents in rearing younger siblings.
Because the question specifies the exact combination of a shared nest and cooperative brood care without reproductive castes, "Quasi-social" is the most accurate definition.

Step 2: Final Answer:
A shared nest paired with cooperative brood care is the defining feature of Quasi-social insects.