eusocial

[ yoo-soh-shuhl ]

adjective

, Animal Behavior.

1. of or relating to a form of insect society, as that of ants, characterized by specialization of tasks and cooperative care of the young.

Other Words From

• eu·so·ci·al·i·ty [yoo-soh-shee-, al, -i-tee], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of eusocial¹

First recorded in 1970–75; eu- + social

Example Sentences

"This secretion strategy is unique and remarkable. The behaviour of these bacteria exhibits characteristics such as differentiation and altruism, which are reminiscent of eusocial systems. If this turns out to be a more common mechanism, we might have exposed a weak point in bacteria: specifically targeting the soldier cells could become a promising medical strategy in the fight against pathogenic bacteria, especially in times of increasing resistance to antibiotics," concludes Raunser.

From Science Daily

“It’s something that has evolved either shortly after ants became eusocial or maybe even before ants becoming social,” says co-author Daniel Kronauer, a biologist at the Rockefeller University.

From Scientific American

You may already know naked mole-rats are pain and cancer resistant—but did you know these eusocial mammals make little chirps to identify themselves as colony members?

From Science Magazine

In bees and other eusocial organisms, a single queen produces offspring, and workers are sterile, so natural selection operates on the entire nest.

From Scientific American

Understanding how this wonderful eusocial insect can accomplish its apparently miraculous feats of navigation has required imagination, intelligence and decades of disciplined application.

From Nature