This book represents empirical studies of some aspect of the phenomenon of variability in social insect behavior. It illustrates the range of ways colony members can differ from one another and interprets the variability in terms of the external environment, social context, or individual experience.

Claire Detrain, Jean-Louis Deneubourg and Jacques Pasteels Studies on insects have been pioneering in major fields of modern biology. In the 1970 s, research on pheromonal communication in insects gave birth to the dis cipline of chemical ecology and provided a scientific frame to extend this approach to other animal groups. In the 1980 s, the theory of kin selection, which was initially formulated by Hamilton to explain the rise of eusociality in insects, exploded into a field of research on its own and found applications in the under standing of community structures including vertebrate ones. In the same manner, recent studies, which decipher the collective behaviour of insect societies, might be now setting the stage for the elucidation of information processing in animals. Classically, problem solving is assumed to rely on the knowledge of a central unit which must take decisions and collect all pertinent information. However, an alternative method is extensively used in nature: problems can be collectively solved through the behaviour of individuals, which interact with each other and with the environment. The management of information, which is a major issue of animal behaviour, is interesting to study in a social life context, as it raises addi tional questions about conflict-cooperation trade-oft's. Insect societies have proven particularly open to experimental analysis: one can easily assemble or disassemble them and place them in controllable situations in the laboratory.

The Guest Editors would like to acknowledge and thank Veridiana Jardim (USP, Brazil) for her contribution to the elaboration of this Research Topic in relation with her doctorate studies.

Omnipresent in virtually all terrestrial ecosystems and of undisputed ecological and economical importance, the study of social insects is an area that continues to attract a vast number of researchers. As a consequence, a huge amount of information about their biology and ecology has accumulated. Distilling this scattered information into a highly

First Published in 1997. The papers in this volume on invertebrate behaviour, predominantly ant behaviour, are presented as a tribute to T. C. Schneirla and to his theoretical and experimental contributions to our understanding of the development and evolution of behaviour. His emphasis on development also brought to the fore new questions, many of which are addressed in this volume. Advances in technical instrumentation for research will be useful in reformulating these old questions in new and significantly constructive programs for responsible research. The theoretical contributions of Schneirla will continue to prove an important facilitation of those new research techniques.

Bringing together for the first time prominent researchers in social insect pheromone communication, including nestmate recognition, this book looks at ants, wasps, bees, and termites, highlighting areas of convergence and divergence among these groups, and identifying areas that need further investigation. Presenting broad synthetic overviews as well as species-specific studies, the volume will be useful to natural scientists, ecologists, and those interested in pest management, as well as to anyone interested in the fascinating chemically mediated behavioral interactions of social insects.

Physiology, Behavior, Genomics of Social Insects provides comprehensive information on the social insect groups described, including new and unique reviews on emerging model social organisms. The book's interdisciplinary approach integrates behavior, genomics, and physiology, providing readers with great insights into the present state of a rapidly expanding area of research. It also discusses areas where new research tools will bring hope to longstanding problems. - Provides the latest research on the genomics, behavior and physiology of social insects - Presents diverse and authoritative syntheses on the relationship between genomics, physiology, and the fascinating behavior of social insects - Takes an in-depth look of the current state of social insect research and its future path