Summary
Sting autotomy occurs only in certain species of highly social Hymenoptera.
When applied, the phenomenon of sting autonomy results in death for the individual demonstrating it but is added protection for the colony as a whole when the intruder is a vertebrate.
Among species in which sting autotomy occurs, it is applied in colony defense and not as an offensive mechanism.
As a defensive mechanism, sting autotomy is best employed against vertebrate intruders but would work disadvantageously in colony defense against raiding insects.
The acquisition of lancet barbs represents a case of convergent evolution among bees, wasps and ants in the order Hymenoptera.
Résumé
L'autotomie de l'aiguillon est présente seulement chez certaines espèces d'Hyménoptères sociaux avancés.
Le phénomène d'autotomie de l'aiguillon amène à la mort l'individu qui le démontre. Cependant, il fournit à la colonie la protection contre un intrus vertébré.
Parmi les espèces qui la manifestent, l'autotomie de l'aiguillon est employée pour la défense de la colonie et non pour l'offensive.
L'autotomie de l'aiguillon comme processus défensif est mieux utilisée contre les intrus vertébrés. Mais elle serait un désavantage pour la colonie à se protéger contre les insectes pilleurs.
L'acquisition du dard barbelé représente un cas de l'évolution convergente parmi les abeilles, les guêpes et les fourmis, dans l'ordre d'Hyménoptères.
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Hermann, H.R. Sting autotomy, a defensive mechanism in certain social Hymenoptera. Ins. Soc 18, 111–120 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02223116
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02223116