eusocial

Burns thinks the staghorns’ newfound traits tick many of the boxes needed to support a claim that they, too, are eusocial.

Such a high degree of genetic relatedness is seen in colonies of eusocial insects.

Seeing eusocial living in plants “seems to indicate to me that this type of transition in the evolution of complexity doesn’t require a brain,” Burns says.

Scientists call these types of cooperative groups, where overlapping generations live together and form castes to divide labor and reproductive roles, “eusocial.”

An assumed requirement for eusocial colonial living is behavioral coordination, because it allows different individuals to work together.