Question
Question: Which insects cultivate fungus in their colonies and allow only the queen, king, and young ones to e...
Which insects cultivate fungus in their colonies and allow only the queen, king, and young ones to eat it?
A. Butterflies
B. Termites
C. Bees
D. Beetles
Solution
The ants, bees, wasps, and termites that have organised societies are known as social insects. One or a few females are in charge of all egg laying, while other colony members (typically sterile females) gather food and do other chores.
Complete answer:
The highest level of social organisation, eusociality is defined by cooperative brood care (including care of offspring from other individuals), overlapping generations within a colony of adults, and a division of labour into reproductive and nonreproductive groups. Within an animal civilization, the division of labour creates specialised behavioural groupings that are sometimes referred to as 'castes'.
Some insects have learned to rely on fungi for a variety of resources, including food and shelter, throughout time. Ants, wasps, beetles, and a variety of other insects have adapted to use fungi as reinforcing constructions or food sources, with the most severe examples leading to the cultivation of fungal crops.
These insects are mycophagous, meaning they only consume fungi. The queen and the first workers to hatch from eggs in a young colony. Termites have bacteria in their guts that help them eat cellulose and recycle plant matter.
As a result, the correct answer is option "B" (Termites).
Some termite species, for example, raise fungi in underground chambers. The termites accomplish this by feeding the fungus pellets of pre-chewed plant material that they are unable to digest. The termites then wait for huge mushrooms to emerge from the fungus spores so that they can consume them.
Note:
Termites are eusocial insects that belong to the order Blattodea and are categorised as infraorder Isoptera or epifamily Termitoidae. These insects are commonly referred to as "white ants", however they are not ants and are not remotely related to them.