Sources: 
After a queen wasp's disappearance, tropical paper wasp societies experience immediate social breakdown, igniting fierce battles among workers.
However, some individuals, dubbed
‘compensators,’ refuse to engage in conflict, instead enhancing their efforts in critical tasks like foraging and caring for the brood.
Researchers from UCL detail that despite chaos, these compensators stabilize colonies by absorbing the costs of aggression.
They found that the
compensators exhibit no biological differences from their fighting peers but significantly increase productivity in response to turmoil, keeping the colony functional.
This study challenges the long-held idea that cooperation in animal societies requires strict rules for stability. Instead, it shows that
aggression-based succession can sustain colonies if some members are willing to mitigate the consequences.
The research presents a new perspective on how social systems can maintain functionality through adaptive strategies in the face of upheaval, revealing insights into the complexities of cooperation.
Ultimately, this dynamic indicates that even in the midst of conflict, the infrastructure of these societies remains intact, driven by the selfless actions of a few workers.
The findings emphasize the resilience and adaptability of
Polistes canadensis and offer broader implications for understanding cooperation in animal societies.
Sources: 
When queen wasps vanish, chaos ensues as workers battle for dominance. However, non-fighting 'compensator' wasps step in to gather food and care for young, allowing the colony to endure despite the social turmoil, according to findings from UCL researchers studying tropical paper wasps (_Polistes canadensis_).
