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Science 28 April 1978:
Vol. 200. no. 4340, pp. 441 - 443
DOI: 10.1126/science.200.4340.441
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Articles

Temporary Queens in Metapolybia Wasps: Nonreproductive Helpers Without Altruism?

MARY JANE WEST-EBERHARD 1

1 Departamento de Biología, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia, and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Canal Zone

In Metapolybia aztecoides some mated females produce only workers, losing in competition with other similar egg-layers before producing either males or queens. Worker production by these ultimately nonreproductive females may incidentally benefit others without lowering individual fitness (without "altruism"). It could be a by-product of mutualism rather than of kin selection or parental manipulation.

Submitted on December 14, 1976
Revised on August 23, 1977


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