Colony-level buffering of essential dietary lipids in eusocial Hymenoptera

Nutritional ecology has largely focused on protein-carbohydrate balance, but essential lipids remain fundamental and comparatively underexamined constraints. Here, I synthesize evidence that sterols and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) function as co-limiting, chemically specific nutrients that shape the organization and performance of eusocial Hymenoptera. Across independent origins of eusociality, colonies regulate both the availability and molecular identity of these lipids collectively. In contrast to solitary Hymenoptera, nutritional constraints are distributed across individuals and life stages, enabling colonies to buffer variation in dietary lipids. Comparative patterns across wasps, bees, and ants link lipid diversity to ecological niches and division of labor. Sterols primarily support growth and reproductive investment, whereas PUFAs - particularly α-linolenic acid - are disproportionately associated with neural performance and worker task coordination. Colony-level processes, including selective foraging, storage, physiological filtering, symbioses, and trophallaxis, buffer lipid constraints, thereby stabilizing colony function despite variation in dietary lipids.