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Polyandry is common among highly eusocial insects, because it increases phenotypic variation within the colonies, which was shown to increase fitness. However, genetic variation within colonies is assumed to provide conflict within colonies, because worker bees may act nepotistically during the queen-rearing phase by preferring more closely related larvae. The data presented in this study did not show that relatedness is important for the selection of larvae for queen rearing. However, different maternal investments into the egg can significantly affect the chance of the resulting larvae to receive royal treatment or not. Egg weight, measured as a criterion for maternal investment differed greatly even within clutches laid simultaneously. Worker bees recruit for specific larvae by a specific behaviour, the exposure of the Nasonov gland. However, this behaviour is not guided by relatedness, but in addition to egg size by genetic differences within a colony assumed to be linked with differences in larvae attractiveness. Under natural conditions, all members of a colony are more (r = 0.75) or less (r = 0.25) related. Consequently, genetically or environmentally-driven attractiveness – but not relatedness – represent the key criteria for selecting larvae for gyne production. Considering also the other factors (cost and benefits) in Hamilton’s (1964) equation, the sole preference for a higher relatedness is not necessarily the best option for inclusive fitness. Consequently, in social societies, absence of the preference for a higher relatedness does not support the new hypotheses of Nowak et al. (2010) that relatedness is irrelevant for the evolution eusociality.
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