Solitary and social behaviors of insects are quite always equated to man's. Many say that the caste system of termites , ants and bees, and some ecology of solitary insects has brought them into their reproductive and evolutionary successes; they are the only class of living creatures on Earth that has exploited all niches except of the north and south poles. In Sociology: (1) the heirarchy or social groups of man correlated to insect caste systmen, (2) kin selection both found in humans and insects, (3) the learned and innate behaviors, (4) sadistic behaviors (i.e. observed in insect mating system), and (5) rape in insects and in humans are some of the few.
On the other hand, is it really justifiable or logical for us so called "logical thinkers" to compare ourselves to the so called "lower life forms" in nature?
[The writer is a 21 yr old Entomologist from the University of the Philippines, of an economically and racially identified 3rd World country-The Philippines]

Yes, we have come a long way along the evolutionary road. Nevertheless, human characteristics like altruism, especially kin selection, certainly find a parallel in many social insects. So it may not be unreasonable to say that such benevolent properties had their beginning in social insects.
abhikgupta

jachmoody said:

gerald_danao said: I certainly don't think so since we make moral choices and have a conscience etc. jim Solitary and social behaviors of insects are quite always equated to man's. Many say that the caste system of termites , ants and bees, and some ecology of solitary insects has brought them into their reproductive and evolutionary successes; they are the only class of living creatures on Earth that has exploited all niches except of the north and south poles. In Sociology: (1) the heirarchy or social groups of man correlated to insect caste systmen, (2) kin selection both found in humans and insects, (3) the learned and innate behaviors, (4) sadistic behaviors (i.e. observed in insect mating system), and (5) rape in insects and in humans are some of the few. On the other hand, is it really justifiable or logical for us so called "logical thinkers" to compare ourselves to the so called "lower life forms" in nature? [The writer is a 21 yr old Entomologist from the University of the Philippines, of an economically and racially identified 3rd World country-The Philippines]