Question

Female workers in the Hymenoptera forgo their own reproduction and instead lavish care on their siblings, which are predominantly sisters. Why is this?

1) Caring for siblings requires less energy than caring for their own broods.
2) Caring for siblings requires less time than caring for their own broods.
3) Workers achieve higher inclusive fitness by caring for siblings than they would by caring for their own broods.
4) There is no evolutionary explanation for this behavior.

Answer 1

Female workers in the Hymenoptera, such as bees, wasps, and ants, forgo their own reproduction to care for siblings and increase their inclusive fitness through kin selection.

Step-by-step explanation:

Female workers in the Hymenoptera, such as bees, wasps, and ants, often forgo their own reproduction and instead care for their siblings. This behavior can be explained by kin selection, which is a type of selection that favors traits that increase the reproductive fitness of relatives. By helping their siblings, which are predominantly sisters, the workers indirectly pass on their own genes.

Furthermore, caring for siblings may require less energy and time compared to caring for their own offspring. Taking care of their siblings allows the workers to contribute to the survival and success of the entire colony, which in turn increases their inclusive fitness.