Final answer:
Eusociality is characterized by reproductive division of labor, overlapping generations, cooperative care of young, and group living, providing an evolutionary advantage by enabling colonies to survive and thrive collectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Eusociality is a term used to describe the highest level of social organization in certain animals and it has four key characteristics:
- Reproductive division of labor: This means that there's a clear distinction between individuals that can reproduce (queens and males in the case of insects) and those that are typically sterile and work for the colony (for example, worker bees).
- Overlapping generations: Eusocial species typically have different generations living together, with the offspring helping to raise their siblings, which is often seen in ant colonies.
- Cooperative care of young: Members of the society work together to raise and care for the young that are not directly their own, sharing this responsibility as part of their social structure.
- Group living: Finally, eusocial organisms live together in large colonies or groups where tasks and resources are shared for the collective benefit, often at the expense of the individual, as observed in honeybee hives.
These characteristics of eusociality provide a significant evolutionary advantage by increasing the chances of survival and reproductive success for the colony as a whole.