Metabolic division of labor in social insects

Social insects are known for reproductive and behavioral division of labor, but little attention has been paid to metabolic forms of division of labor. Metabolic division of labor is the partitioning of complementary metabolic tasks between individuals, and it is widespread in social insects. We define two forms of metabolic division of labor, homosynergetic and heterosynergetic, we pinpoint trophallaxis, trophic eggs, and cannibalism as the primary transfers underlying the homosynergetic form and discuss their evolution. We argue that homosynergetic metabolic division of labor underpins fundamental aspects of colony physiology and may be a necessary feature of superorganismal systems, impacting many life history traits. Investigating metabolic division of labor is necessary to understand major evolutionary transition(s) to superorganismality in social insects.

Automated summary

Social insects are known for their reproductive and behavioral division of labor, but little attention has been paid to the metabolic division of labor. Two forms of metabolic division of labor, homosynergetic and heterosynergetic, are defined, with trophallaxis, trophic eggs, and cannibalism identified as primary transfers underlying the homosynergetic form. It is argued that homosynergetic metabolic division of labor is crucial to colony physiology and may be a necessary feature of superorganismal systems, impacting various life history traits. Investigating metabolic division of labor is important for understanding the major evolutionary transition(s) to superorganismality in social insects.