Altruism in insects

Altruism in insects refers to behaviors where an individual sacrifices its own fitness to benefit others of its species. For example, worker bees forgo reproduction to support the hive, helping protect the colony and ensuring the survival of shared genes. This cooperative behavior often occurs through evolutionary mechanisms like kin selection, where insects are more likely to help relatives, increasing the likelihood of shared genes being passed on. Altruism enhances the overall success of the group, even if it means individual insects forego personal advantages.