why is an insects such as ant or honey bee or termite said to be a social insect

Why insects such as ants, honey bees, and termites are called social insects?

1. They live in organized colonies
   These insects survive in large, well-structured colonies (or nests) where thousands of individuals stay together, which is considered the core feature of social behaviour.

2. They show division of labour
   Each member performs a specific role — for example queens for reproduction, workers for foraging and nest maintenance, and soldiers for defence. This labour division is considered essential for colony efficiency.

3. They cooperate for survival activities
   Activities like food collection, brood care, nest building, and protection are done cooperatively rather than individually, which is a hallmark of social living.

4. They exhibit overlapping generations
   Multiple generations live together in the same nest at the same time, so the older ones usually care for the younger members.

5. They communicate through complex signals
   Social insects use pheromones, touch, vibrations, and sometimes even sound patterns to pass information about food, danger, or colony needs.

6. They show brood care
   Workers or older individuals take care of the eggs, larvae, and pupae. This shared nurturing behaviour is a key mark of eusociality.

7. They sacrifice individual interest for colony interest
   Most individuals (especially workers) remain sterile and spend their whole life working for the colony’s wellbeing rather than producing their own offspring.

8. They maintain a highly coordinated social order
   The colony functions almost like a single “super-organism”, where behaviour of each insect is synchronized with colony needs, which is why their society is considered extremely advanced among invertebrates.