ABSTRACT
A simple stochastic model, incorporating a semi-Markovian transition structure based on positive feedback processes, was written to simulate task performance and division of labor in a social insect colony. The model could be tuned to generate some aspects of the phenomenon of elitism in insect societies. Such variability in activity level among adult worker individuals is well known among other social insects. The activity level of each bee with respect to each of the range of possible job opportunities is governed by both external and internal factors. The external factors consist merely of the present levels of 'employment opportunities' within the colony: the probability that a bee will decide to feed larvae is increased by the presence of larvae that are hungry, and foraging is stimulated by the presence of empty honey or pollen pots.
