A soldier is a caste in several social species. They are particularly common in eusocial species such as ants, termites, and aphids. Soldiers are notable for their differences in morphology compared to other members of their shared species.
Eusocial insects are able to expend more resources to create physical extremes in their soldiers. [1] Ants (like Pheidole) and termites species create soldiers with very large heads. Eusocial species that need to fly, such as wasps and bees, do not create soldiers to this extent; they are limited by their need to fly. [2]]
Nearly all termite species have evolved soldiers. [3] However, some genera of soldierless termites exist. [4]
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A soldier is a caste in several social species. They are particularly common in eusocial species such as ants, termites, and aphids. Soldiers are notable for their differences in morphology compared to other members of their shared species.
Eusocial insects are able to expend more resources to create physical extremes in their soldiers. [1] Ants (like Pheidole) and termites species create soldiers with very large heads. Eusocial species that need to fly, such as wasps and bees, do not create soldiers to this extent; they are limited by their need to fly. [2]]
Nearly all termite species have evolved soldiers. [3] However, some genera of soldierless termites exist. [4]
{{
cite book}}
: |edition=
has extra text (
help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (
link) CS1 maint: others (
link)