Latency time and absence of group effect: two examples

We suggest that group effect need not be invoked to explain the differences in latency times exhibited by groups of different sizes in the initiation of building in the termite Macrotermes subhyalinus (Rambur), and in the initiation of aggressive behavior in various subspecies of the honey bee Apis mellifera. A simple model is presented, that is fully consistent with experimental data.