The Molecular Substrates of Insect Eusociality

Abstract

The evolution of eusociality in Hymenoptera—encompassing bees, ants, and wasps—is characterized by multiple gains and losses of social living, making this group a prime model to understand the mechanisms that underlie social behavior and social complexity. Our review synthesizes insights into the evolutionary history and molecular basis of eusociality. We examine new evidence for key evolutionary hypotheses and molecular pathways that regulate social behaviors, highlighting convergent evolution on a shared molecular toolkit that includes the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) and target of rapamycin (TOR) pathways, juvenile hormone and ecdysteroid signaling, and epigenetic regulation. We emphasize how the crosstalk among these nutrient-sensing and endocrine signaling pathways enables social insects to integrate external environmental stimuli, including social cues, with internal physiology and behavior. We argue that examining these pathways as an integrated regulatory circuit and exploring how the regulatory architecture of this circuit evolves alongside eusociality can open the door to understanding the origin of the complex life histories and behaviors of this group.