What evolutionary sequence is suggested by the genetic similarity among *Vespula* species despite differing nest sites?
Social complexity evolved before major habitat specialization
The observation that various *Vespula* species share a high degree of genetic similarity, even when exhibiting observable differences in fundamental behaviors like nest placement (subterranean versus aerial), suggests a specific evolutionary order. This implies that the core 'software' required for building a large, complex, paper-wrapped social colony evolved first. Following this establishment of advanced sociality, the 'hardware'—the specific instructions dictating where to construct that colony—evolved later as a secondary adaptation. This means that environmental pressures and competitive landscapes likely exerted a stronger selective force on fine-tuning nest location choices rather than being the initial catalyst for the fundamental evolution of their highly successful social organization.
