War and Peace: Conflict and Cooperation in a Tropical Insect Society
Many insect species live in societies that parallel, if not better, human societies in the sophistication and complexity of their organization, communication, division of labour and even their caste system. How do these insects achieve such social complexity? How has natural selection favoured social life over solitary life? In my quest of the origins of sociality, I have focussed on Ropalidia marginata, a primitively social wasp that appears to be on the brink of sociality and perpetually plays out the drama of war and peace. Perhaps the most significant message from my studies is that conflict and cooperation are intimately linked and maintaining a fine balance between the two is what social life is all about.
Part of the IMSc Outreach Series on Biodiversity along with the photography exhibition Monsoon Menagerie