In cooperative social insect hierarchies, which activity is not performed by sterile females?

In cooperative social insect hierarchies, sterile females, commonly known as worker bees or ants, engage in various essential activities to support the colony. However, they do not lay eggs, which is the primary role of the fertile females, typically the queen. The sterile females focus on tasks that contribute to the colony's overall functionality and survival, such as gathering food, caring for the young, and protecting the queen. Each of these roles is crucial; for instance, gathering food ensures the colony has the necessary resources for growth and development, while caring for the young promotes the colony's future generations. Protecting the queen is vital for maintaining the colony's structure, as the queen is responsible for reproduction. Thus, the activity of laying eggs clearly distinguishes fertile females from sterile ones in cooperative social insect systems.