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Science 7 January 2005:
Vol. 307. no. 5706, pp. 54 - 56
DOI: 10.1126/science.1106934
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Perspectives

EVOLUTION:
Policing Insect Societies

Francis L. W. Ratnieks and Tom Wenseleers

Evolution Policing is a feature not only of human society but also of social insect societies, being prevalent among certain species of bee, wasp, and ant. In their Perspective, Ratnieks and Wenseleers take an in-depth look at policing in insect societies and discuss whether insect policing could perhaps shed light on better ways to police human societies.

The authors are in the Laboratory of Apiculture & Social Insects, Department of Animal & Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK, and the Institute of Advanced Study, Berlin 14193, Germany.

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