When breeding in insects is limited to few individuals in a group, the evolution of eusociality is often explained by kin selection. What, then, explains nonrelated individuals in insect colonies? Leadbeater et al. (p. 874; see the Perspective by Gadagkar) examined the founding of colonies of the wasp Polistes dominulus, where nests are often established by both dominant (breeding) and subordinate foundresses (primarily nonbreeding). The presence of unrelated individuals was associated with more successful establishment and maintenance of a colony, when compared with those established by a single foundress. The potential to inherit the nest thus resulted in a higher probability of reproductive success for subordinates than had they established their own nest.
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