singlecolony

A singlecolony is a term used in the context of insect societies, particularly ants, bees, and termites, to describe a colony that consists of a single queen and her offspring. This is in contrast to a multicolony, where multiple queens coexist within the same colony. Singlecolony systems are characterized by a high degree of genetic relatedness among colony members, as all offspring are produced by a single queen.

Singlecolony systems are prevalent among many ant species, such as the leaf-cutter ants and some species of army ants. In these species, the queen is typically the largest and most dominant member of the colony, and she is responsible for laying all the eggs. The workers, which are sterile females, are her offspring and are responsible for caring for the queen and the brood, as well as foraging for food.

Singlecolony systems can also be found among some bee species, such as the honeybee and the bumblebee. In these species, the queen is also the largest and most dominant member of the colony, and she is responsible for laying all the eggs. The workers, which are sterile females, are her offspring and are responsible for caring for the queen and the brood, as well as foraging for food and building the hive.

Singlecolony systems are thought to have evolved as a way to maximize genetic relatedness among colony members, which can increase the fitness of the colony as a whole. However, singlecolony systems also have their drawbacks, such as increased competition for resources and increased vulnerability to environmental changes.