Who runs the world? According to Beyoncé, it’s girls — and in the insect world, that’s certainly true! In many insect species, females are strong, confident and unmistakably in charge, from industrious honey bee queens to formidable praying mantises. Let’s dive into what makes so many female insects such powerhouses and the driving forces of their societies.
Female Leadership
In insect societies, leadership and division of labor aren’t always shared equally between males and females. Some social insect communities operate under a matriarchal structure, led by a dominant female.
A hallmark of these societies is the selection of a single queen to head the colony. Her primary role? To ensure the colony’s survival and growth by constantly laying eggs. Below, we’ll explore fascinating facts about these insect queens and how aspects of their leadership compare — and contrast — with human leadership.
- Mating
Queens truly do have it all: more hospitable living arrangements in the nest and a constant supply of a nutritious, high-calorie diet. However, they also shoulder the gargantuan responsibility of ensuring the growth of their colonies.
To promote genetic diversity, honey bee queens mate repeatedly before they begin laying eggs, collecting over 70 million sperm from multiple males. For the males, however, mating marks the end of the road. Once mating occurs, a male’s endophallus detaches within the queen, rupturing his abdomen and killing him.
- Laying eggs
Queens of honey bees and certain ant species have impressive reproductive capabilities. A queen can lay thousands of eggs daily and up to hundreds of thousands over her lifetime, ensuring that the colony’s population remains strong and adaptable.
- Protection
Just as human societies rally to protect their leaders, insect colonies fiercely protect their queens. Honey bees form a dense shield around the queen to safeguard her from threats, while certain army ants create a living shelter by interlocking their bodies — sometimes using up to 700,000 ants to provide the ultimate fortress.
Reproductive Habits
Queen bees aren’t the only insects with fascinating reproductive behaviors. Other female insects showcase unique — and sometimes dramatic — mating habits:
- Praying mantises
With their raptorial (grasping) front legs, praying mantises might look serene, but they are known for a startling behavior: sexual cannibalism. Males compete fiercely for a chance to mate, yet the victorious suitor doesn’t always survive the encounter. After mating, some females kill and consume the male, gaining valuable nutrients that provide energy for egg-laying and nurturing their future offspring.
- Walking sticks
Also known as stick insects, some walking sticks can reproduce without their male counterparts through a process called parthenogenesis. This unique form of asexual reproduction results in genetic clones of the female, allowing them to maintain their population without mating.
The Positive Ecological Impact of Female-Led Insect Species
Female-led insect species play a vital role in sustaining ecosystems and supporting economies worldwide. For instance:
- Female bees serve as the primary workers within their colonies, diligently gathering nectar and pollen from plants. This activity not only sustains bee colonies but also facilitates pollination, allowing plants to reproduce and maintain ecosystem biodiversity.
- Bee-driven pollination has substantial economic benefits. In 2010 alone, honey bees were responsible for pollinating about $12.4 billion worth of crops in the United States, including key produce like almonds, apples and blueberries.
Self Defense
Male insects sometimes look more intimidating than females, such as male stag beetles, who use their large, imposing mandibles in battles with other males. But when it comes to defense mechanisms, it’s the sting that matters. Many female insects have toxic venom in their stingers, ready to inject into any threat.
Female honey bees and tarantula hawk wasps (also known as pepsis wasps) can deliver painful stings when threatened. Males, however, lack stingers entirely but often mimic the warning colors of females to deter predators. This clever strategy signals danger despite their inability to sting.
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Sources:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ants/queen.html
https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2016/07/sexual-cannibalism-could-benefit-male-praying-mantis
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/veterinary-science-and-veterinary-medicine/parthenogenesis
https://blog.desertmuseum.org/2017/06/14/who-run-the-insect-world-girls/
