Research in my group concerns the behavioral ecology and sociobiology of insects, and most of our projects center on ants and termites, the two most diverse and abundant groups of social insects. Although evolutionary unrelated, ants and termites form complex and highly cooperative societies and are convergent in many aspects of their social organization. We study the ecological factors that have influenced sociality, the genetics of colonies and populations, and the behavioral mechanisms that organize group action. One current emphasis is on mechanisms of disease resistance and their role in social evolution. This research includes studies of immunology and the chemical ecology of disease resistance. A second research focus is on the evolution and ecology of caste and division on labor. Specific problems in this area include the study of adaptiveness of colony demography and the organization of behavioral specialization. We are developing neurophysiological approaches to answer questions about the organization of division of labor and foraging.