Eyal Privman

Keywords supergene social chromosome monogyne polygyne complex trait Hymenoptera social insects phylogenomics population genomics Introduction Convergent evolution is a common phenomenon across the tree of life,1 yet the genomic architectures that facilitate the repeated evolution of complex traits remain poorly understood. Social Hymenoptera (ants, bees, and wasps) exemplify complex phenotypes that evolved repeatedly in multiple lineages.

1 Introduction Colonial identity is the foundation and a prerequisite for any social interaction in insect societies. The ability to recognize nestmates and to discriminate them from aliens is needed for protecting the colony's food reserves and brood from being plundered and for preserving territorial control over resources around the nest.

Abstract Nestmate recognition is the basis for cooperation within social insect colonies. Quantitative variation in cuticle hydrocarbons (CHCs) is used for nestmate recognition in ants and other social insects.