Biological research challenges insect social theories and uses bee anatomy to study evolution

Researchers at the University of São Paulo are utilizing phenomics—the study of physical characteristics—to investigate the evolutionary history of bees. By examining morphological clues in fossils preserved in amber, scientists aim to understand how climate change and habitat destruction impact pollinator survival and ecosystem balance.

Parallel research is challenging long-standing biological theories regarding social insects like ants, bees, and wasps. For over 60 years, the “Hamilton’s rule” of kin selection has explained altruistic behavior in these species through haplodiploidy, where high genetic relatedness among sisters drives cooperation. However, new evidence suggests that complex community life may not be driven exclusively by these previously proposed genetic mechanisms, prompting a re-evaluation of how social organization evolves in these insects.