We integrate phylogenetic information with data on genetic relatedness, inbreeding, sex ratios, reproductive skew, host-plant use, gall morphology, soldier defensive behaviour, kleptoparasite pressure, and demography to evaluate hypotheses for the origin and evolution of soldier castes in Australian gall thrips. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the single origin of thrips soldiers appear...

Combining the work of peacekeeping and parenting can lead to dilemmas in work/life balance individual soldier/parents. Simultaneously, ideals ‘peacekeeping masculinities’ potentially be used struggles for gender equality peacekeeping. Our aim is discuss whether how a useful concept tool increase our thinking on what it means both ‘good soldier’ parent’. We ask two questions: (1) (How) notion he...

Black Soldier Flies (Hermetia illucens) are common in the western hemisphere as inhabitants of nutrient rich ecosystems such as manur piles and compost heaps. They pass through a five stage lifecycle i.e. larva, prepupae, pupa, and adult. The adults, 15 to 20 mm in length) have no mouth parts and therefore do not bite nor do they sting and are not known to transmit any diseases. The larva, are ...

The soldier on the modern battlefield needs to retrieve critical information in a timely manner while operating in a highly mobile environment. The information, above all, has to be timely and accurate for his needs. The soldier also cannot rely on a commercial communications infrastructure, so data networking features must be developed around existing military communications networks. There ar...

Acangaobitermes krishnaigen. et sp. n., is described here, based on soldiers and workers collected in Brazil. Some characteristics suggest a close kinship with Noirotitermes Cancello & Myles, and both genera share the following traits absent in all other Syntermitinae: the microsculpturing on the soldier head capsule surface with internal granulations; the piercing mandibles with a single very ...

Background: Strict regulation of caste differentiation, at the molecular level, is thought to be important to maintain social structure in insect societies. Previously, a number of extrinsic and intrinsic factors have been shown to influence caste composition in termite colonies. One important factor is the influence of nestmates; in particular, soldier termites are known to inhibit hormone-dep...

A hallmark of animals that are eusocial, or those with advanced sociality, is reproductive specialization into worker and queen castes. In the most derived societies, these divisions are essentially fixed and in some arthropods, include further specialization--a tripartite system with a soldier caste that defends the colony. Eusociality has originated numerous times among insects but is believe...

Improvised Explosive Devices (IED's) have wreaked havoc amongst American and Coalition troops. They have been the number one killer of Coalition forces. Many times the impact knock out fuel tanks which then catch on fire, causing life threatening bum injuries. As a counter, the military unveiled new fire/melt resistant clothing. In the case of a chemically contaminated environment, the soldier ...

Analysis of DNA sequence data from four genes (Elongation Factor-1 , wingless, 16S rDNA and cytochrome oxidase I ) yielded a well-resolved, well-supported phylogeny for all 21 species of gall-inducing thrips found on Australian Acacia. This phylogeny was then used to investigate the evolution of various behavioural and life history traits, and to examine the level of agreement with the taxonomy...