Classification and Social Life

Classification and Social Life#

1 . Honey bees are members of which class (classification of living things)?

Insecta

2 . Characteristics of the Class Insecta

  1. External skeleton composed of chitin

  2. Jointed appendages

  3. Three pairs of jointed legs

  4. Body is segmented and divided into 3 regions: head, thorax & abdomen

  5. Pair of compound eyes and antennae

  6. Two pair of wings are present in adult stage

3 . What are the three characteristics that must be present for an insect to be called an “eusocial insect”?

  1. Cooperative brood care

  2. Reproductive division of labor

  3. Overlapping generations

4 . What is meant by “cooperative brood care?

Females of the species share the burden of rearing the young- whether their own or others

5 . What is meant by “reproductive division of labor”?

Individuals in the society abandon their own efforts at reproduction in favor of helping sisters reproduce

6 . What is meant by “overlapping generations”?

Some offspring remain in the nest to help their parents rear more siblings

7 . What species of honey bees are eusocial?

All species of honey bees

8 . Besides honey bees, what other insects are “eusocial insects”?

Termites, ants, bumble bees, and wasps.