Ant and Related Entomology Terms

The systematic study of all aspects of the biological basis of social behavior in insects: Insect sociobiology investigates such aspects of behavioral conduct such as mating practices, pack hunting, and territorial fighting.

Any period between molts (shedding outgrown skin) during the course of development: An instar refers to one of various phases of growth between the molts of anthropods before they reach the adulthood of sexual maturity.

Between different nests: Internidal abodes involve more than one nest whether of the same colony or of diverse ones.

Referring to an occurrence within a single nest: Intranidal activities or situations take place inside the nests of certain organisms, like those of birds, bees, and insects.

Symbolized by r, the fraction by which a population is growing in each instant of time.

A signal used to induce another member of the same species to join in performing an act; such as, following an odor trail or cooperating in adult transport.

The condition in which the sizes of two body parts remain constant relative to each other as total body size increases.

Any substance or blend of substances emitted by an organism that elicits a response adaptively favorable to the receiver but not the emitter.

Recognition of and discrimination toward various categories of kin.

The selection of genes as a result of one or more individuals' favoring or disfavoring the survival and reproduction of relatives who possess the same genes by common descent which usually excludes offspring.

Alarm communication or recruitment mediated by the sight of movement in nest mates alone.

The segmented appendages arising from the labium, or lower "lip" of the head.

The lower "lip", or lowermost mouthpart-bearing segment of insects, located just below the mandibles and the maxillae.

A thin, plate-like process.

Referring to hair that is woolly or like soft down.