Benefits of insect colours: a review from social insect studies

Abstract

Insect colours assist in body protection, signalling, and physiological adaptations. Colours also convey multiple channels of information. These channels are valuable for species identification, distinguishing individual quality, and revealing ecological or evolutionary aspects of animals’ life. During recent years, the emerging interest in colour research has been raised in social hymenopterans such as ants, wasps, and bees. These insects provide important ecosystem services and many of those are model research organisms. Here we review benefits that various colour types give to social insects, summarize practical applications, and highlight further directions. Ants might use colours principally for camouflage, however the evolutionary function of colour in ants needs more attention; in case of melanin colouration there is evidence for its interrelation with thermoregulation and pathogen resistance. Colours in wasps and bees have confirmed linkages to thermoregulation, which is increasingly important in face of global climate change. Besides wasps use colours for various types of signalling. Colour variations of well chemically defended social insects are the mimetic model for unprotected organisms. Despite recent progress in molecular identification of species, colour variations are still widely in use for species identification. Therefore, further studies on variability is encouraged. Being closely interconnected with physiological and biochemical processes, insect colouration is a great source for finding new ecological indicators and biomarkers. Due to novel digital imaging techniques, software, and artificial intelligence there are emerging possibilities for new advances in this topic. Further colour research in social insects should consider specific features of sociality.

Phenotypic Plasticity of Common Wasps in an Industrially Polluted Environment in Southwestern Finland

“…This suggests that parts of the body of the common wasps might have varying response to environmental contaminants. Modularity in the expression of melanin pigmentation might affect the functions of pigments [48] in wasps and other social insect species. The morphological differences observed across zones were restricted to the clypeus and the thorax, while there was no significant difference in overall growth (dry body mass) and abdominal pigmentation.…”

Effects of eri silkworm (Samia ricini) pupae inclusion in broiler diets on growth performances, health, carcass characteristics and meat quality

“…However, the inclusion of yellow mealworms [20] or black soldier fly larvae [23] led to more lightness, redness and yellowness of breast meat. We also found increased yellowness with the inclusion of eri silkworm pupae meal.…”

Diversity of Pigments in Insects, Their Synthesis and Economic Value for Various Industries

“…It has been stated that red and brown ants use color for camouflage while black ants use melanin for thermoregulation and protection from pathogens. Similarly, pigmentation helps the wasps and bees to adapt to the thermal conditions existent in the surrounding environments [11] .…”