Epigenetics in Social Insects: A New Direction for Understanding the Evolution of Castes
Figure 1
Examples of striking phenotypic plasticity between castes in the social insects. (a) Honey bee queen (center) and workers. (b) A winged reproductive termite Reticulitermes flavipes (center) and nonreproductive workers. (c) Queen leafcutter ant Atta texana (center) and a daughter worker (left). (d) Soldiers (with larger mandibles) and workers of the termite Prorhinotermes inopinatus. (e) An army ant Eciton burcelli soldier (center) and minor worker (bottom). (f) Major and minor workers of the leafcutter ant Atta cephalotes. All photos used by permission from Alex Wild.
