Castes in insects

In insect societies, castes are specialized groups of individuals that perform specific roles, such as workers, soldiers, or reproductive queens. These castes are often physically distinct and develop through different genetic or environmental cues, enabling the colony to operate efficiently. For example, worker ants foraging and caring for young, while the queen focuses on reproduction. Caste systems promote colony survival by dividing labor according to each group's function, ensuring the colony's growth, protection, and maintenance. This social structure varies among species, from highly organized societies like bees and ants to less differentiated groups in other insects.