The Relationships of Ants and Bees and Stinging Wasps – #365papers – 2017 – 98

#365papers for April 8, 2017

Branstetter, Danforth, PIlls, Faircloth, Ward, Buffington, Gates, Kula, and Brady, 2017, Phylogenomic insights into the evolution of stinging wasps and the origins of ants and bees: Current Biology, v. 27, p. 1019-1025.

What’s it about?

The focus of this paper is to understand the relationships between wasps, ants, and bees, to see where the development of the complex social structures of ants and bees fall in the relationships, and where pollen eating (what makes bees, bees), fits into those relationships.

Turns out that bees and ants are subgroups in the larger group of stinging wasps.

Why does it matter?

It’s interesting to better understand the relationships of bees and ants. Both groups have complex social structures. The development of societies appears to have been a primary driver for evolution in both groups.

Why did I read this?

I only read this because it showed up repeatedly in my social media streams. I read it only out of pure curiosity. I wasn’t disappointed.