International Union for the Study of Social Insects
Central European section
Introduction to the Central European section of the IUSSI
During the last few decades, more and more researchers have become interested in social insects (bees, wasps, ants and termites) and have found that for many fundamental questions in biology, they make perfect study systems. Social insects are almost ubiquitous, and wherever they occur, they occur in large numbers. Consequently, they play an enormous role in most terrestrial ecosystems. A thorough insight into ecological processes therefore requires a deep understanding of social insects.
The life history traits of social insects are the basis for their ecological success: social insects live in societies which are characterized by a division of labour between reproductives (kings and queens), which produce young, and non-reproductives (workers and soldiers), which perform the daily tasks in the nest. How such a deep co-operation among egoistic entities evolved has long been a major puzzle in biology, and much research therefore focuses on how colony life is established and maintained.
Researchers working on social insects are drawn together in the International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI). It was founded by a group of entomologists during the International Congress of Entomology in Amsterdam in 1951 and today consists of around 15 regional or national sections worldwide. It publishes an internationally renowned quarterly journal, Insectes Sociaux, and international conferences are held every four years.
In addition, the individual sections have regional meetings.
The German-Speaking section of IUSSI is currently one of the largest regional sections. In fall 2007 it changed its name to "Central European Section" and thus opened itself for potential members from other European countries. You can find the form to become a member to the Central European section of the IUSSI here.
The managing board of the Central European section consists of
Judith Korb, Universität Freiburg, Germany (president)
Heike Feldhaar, Universität Bayreuth, Germany (secretary)
Susanne Foitzik, LMU München, Germany
Karl Crailsheim, Universität Graz, Austria
Wolfgang Kirchner, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
Robin Moritz, Universität Halle, Germany
Marko Balint, Babes-Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Jürgen Heinze, Universität Regensburg, Germany
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