How do social insects like ants and bees organize their colonies, and what are some of the key behaviors and roles within these complex societies?

Social insects like ants (Formicidae) and bees (Apis spp.) organize their colonies through a complex division of labor. In ant colonies, there are various castes including workers, soldiers, and queens, each with specific roles such as foraging, defending the colony, and reproducing. Bees have similar roles with worker bees performing tasks like foraging and caring for larvae, drones mating with the queen, and the queen laying eggs. Both ants and bees use chemical signals (pheromones) to communicate and coordinate activities, ensuring the efficient functioning and survival of the colony.