Are clonal aphids (Aphididae) meta-eusocial?

Everyone knows that certain aphids (Aphididae, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphid) reproduce largely by parthenogenetic (= clonal) means (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenogenesis and https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1042/BC20070135).

However, what is somewhat unappreciated is the puzzle that this raises.

Most other insects that reproduce parthenogenetically (= clonally), beyond Hemiptera, are eusocial (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eusociality and https://www.researchgate.net/publication/30947830_The_definition_of_eusociality).

Is it really true that aphids have evolved to be able to reproduce largely parthenogenetically (= largely clonally) despite lacking eusociality?

In this Post, I argue that one way to view aphids is as 'meta-eusocial' insects.

The rational goes as follows.

All of the clonal aphids are dependent on ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in a mutualistic relationship.

This trophobiotic (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trophobiosis) relationship involves more than mere protection from predators and parasitoids. This is because ants tend/husband aphids in more profound ways, analogous to the relationship between Homo sapiens and livestock (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcPcT7dJ3Hc and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BigxxBfjaYc).

Indeed, it might be impossible for aphids to reproduce parthenogenetically without their intimate relationship with ants.

Most of the ants that tend aphids are eusocial, and reproduce parthenogenetically. This is significant, despite the fact that in most cases the individual aphids greatly outnumber the individual ants at any one site.

What this means is that the reproductive modes of aphids reflect the eusociality of the mutualism-partners that are crucial for the ecological success of the aphids.

Aphids can be viewed as meta-eusocial, in the sense that their reproductive mode is congruent with, and an 'extension of', that of the ants.

Publicado el 21 de julio de 2024 por milewski