Inclusive fitness theory: novel predictions and tests in eusocial Hymenoptera

Hamilton's first papers concerned social evolution and revolutionized our u nderstanding of reproductive conflict in insect societies. The revolution c ontinues. Recent research at the University of Sheffield has investigated t wo topics previously not considered from an inclusive fitness perspective: dominance hierarchies and queen-worker caste conflict. The theory makes pre dictions close to that occurring in hierarchies of Dinoponera queenless ant s and queen overproduction in Melipona bees. An earlier prediction, that mu ltiple paternity favours worker policing, is supported by research on Vespu la and Dolichovespula wasps. However, worker policing also occurs in the ho rnet, Vespa crabro, which has low paternity (effective queen mating 1.1). W orker policing in Vespinae wasps has two novel facultative features. In Dol ichovespula saxonica, worker policing occurs in colonies headed by a multip le-mated queen but not by a single-mated queen. In Vespa crabro, queenless colonies accept worker-laid eggs but reject queen-laid eggs, probably becau se queen supersedure does not occur but queen parasitism does.