Editing Colony (biology) (section)

==Ontogeny in eusocial insects==
Colony ontogeny refers to the [[developmental process]] and progression of a colony. It describes the various stages and changes that occur within a colony from its initial formation to its mature state.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Jeanne |first=R. L. |year=1986 |title=The evolution of the organization of work in social insects |journal=[[Monitore Zoologico Italiano-Italian Journal of Zoology]] |volume=20 |pages=119–133}}</ref> The exact duration and dynamics of colony ontogeny can vary greatly depending on the species and environmental conditions.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Keller |first=L. |year=1998 |title=Queen lifespan and colony characteristics in ants and termites |journal=[[Insectes Sociaux]] |volume=45 |issue=3 |pages=235–246|doi=10.1007/s000400050084 |s2cid=24541087 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Keller |first1=L. |last2=Genoud |first2=M. |year=1997 |title=Extraordinary lifespans in ants: A test of evolutionary theories of ageing |journal=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]] |volume=389 |issue=6654 |pages=958–960|doi=10.1038/40130 |bibcode=1997Natur.389..958K |s2cid=4423161 |url=https://serval.unil.ch/notice/serval:BIB_8F93055ACAEF }}</ref> Factors such as resource availability, competition,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Cronin |first1=Adam L. |last2=Fédérici |first2=Pierre |last3=Doums |first3=Claudie |last4=Monnin |first4=Thibaud |title=The influence of intraspecific competition on resource allocation during dependent colony foundation in a social insect |journal=Oecologia |date=1 February 2012 |volume=168 |issue=2 |pages=361–369 |doi=10.1007/s00442-011-2098-6 |pmid=21833638 |bibcode=2012Oecol.168..361C |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00442-011-2098-6 |language=en |issn=1432-1939}}</ref> and environmental cues can influence the progression and outcome of colony development.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Chouvenc |first1=Thomas |last2=Basille |first2=Mathieu |last3=Li |first3=Hou-Feng |last4=Su |first4=Nan-Yao |title=Developmental Instability in Incipient Colonies of Social Insects |journal=PLOS ONE |date=25 November 2014 |volume=9 |issue=11 |pages=e113949 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0113949 |doi-access=free |pmid=25423502 |pmc=4244189 |bibcode=2014PLoSO...9k3949C |language=en |issn=1932-6203}}</ref>

During colony ontogeny for eusocial insects such as ants and bees, a colony goes through several distinct phases, each characterised by specific behavioural patterns, division of labor, and structural modifications. While the exact details can vary depending on the species, the general progression typically involves a number of well-defined stages, detailed below.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Bourke |first=A. F. G. |year=1999 |title=Colony size, social complexity and reproductive conflict in social insects |journal=[[Journal of Evolutionary Biology]] |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=245–257|doi=10.1046/j.1420-9101.1999.00028.x |s2cid=85187599 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Alexander |first1=R. D. |last2=Noonan |first2=K. M. |last3=Crespi |first3=B. J. |year=1991 |title=The evolution of eusociality |editor1-first=N. G. |editor1-last=Jablonski |editor2-first=V. |editor2-last=Jain |editor3-first=H. |editor3-last=Jarchow |editor4-first=P. |editor4-last=Schulze-Makuch |editor5-first=T. |editor5-last=Deutsch |series=The biology of the naked mole-rat |volume=3 |pages=44}}</ref> 

===Founding stage===
In this initial stage, a single female individual or small group of female individuals, often called the foundress(es), queen(s) (and kings for termites) or primary reproductive(s), establish a new colony. The foundresses build a basic nest structure and begin to lay eggs. The foundresses can also perform non-reproductive tasks at this early stage, such as nursing these first eggs and leaving the nest to gather resources. 

===Worker emergence===
This is also known as the ergonomic stage. As the eggs laid by the foundresses develop, they give rise to the first generation of workers. These workers can assume various tasks, such as foraging, brood care, and nest maintenance. Initially, the worker population is relatively small, and their tasks are not as specialised. As the colony grows, more workers emerge, and the division of labor becomes more pronounced. Some individuals may specialise in tasks like foraging, defense, or tending to the brood, while others may take on general tasks within the nest.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Friedmann |first1=D. |last2=Johnson |first2=B. |last3=Linksvayer |first3=T. |year=2020 |title=Distributed physiology and the molecular basis of social life in eusocial insects |journal=Hormones and Behavior |volume=122 |page=104757 |doi=10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104757 |pmid=32305342 |s2cid=216030233 |doi-access=free }}</ref> These specialised tasks can change throughout the life of a worker. 

===Reproductive phase===
At a certain point in the colony ontogeny, usually after a period of growth and maturation, the colony produces reproductives, including new virgin queens (princesses) and males. These individuals have the potential to leave the nest and start new colonies, ensuring the transmission of the gene pool of its natal colony.

===Colony death===
Over time, colonies may go through a senescence phase where the reproductive output declines, and the colony's overall vitality diminishes. Eventually, the colony may die off or be replaced by a new generation of reproductives. After the death of the queen in a [[monogyne]] colony, possible fates other than colony death include serial polygyny (when a virgin queen of the colony replaces the dead queen as the primary reproductive) or colony inheritance (when a worker takes over as primary reproductive).{{cn|date=November 2023}}