eusocial

Such a high degree of genetic relatedness is seen in colonies of eusocial insects.

Burns thinks the staghorns’ newfound traits tick many of the boxes needed to support a claim that they, too, are eusocial.

An assumed requirement for eusocial colonial living is behavioral coordination, because it allows different individuals to work together.

This variability differs from many eusocial species, he says.

Scientists call these types of cooperative groups, where overlapping generations live together and form castes to divide labor and reproductive roles, “eusocial.”