 Nest mate recognition is widespread in many eusocial insects . However , when there are no physical differences in either diet or nesting materials , many can no longer discriminate nest mate from other conspecifics . Recently , however , it has been indicated that many insects have the ability to discriminate relatives even having lived in identical environments with their non @-@ relative counterpart . Studies have indicated that in Polistes fuscatus , former nestmates would nest in areas located close together near their natal nests the following spring . Social halictid bees also are able to recognize their relatives . In Polistes exclamans , it has been indicated that discrimination of relatives from non @-@ relatives , even having lived in identical environments , is possible . This was found by Allen , Schulze Kellman , and Gamboa through an experiment in which hibernating wasps from different nests were put in a box together after being raised in identical environments . As the number of unrelated groups of wasps increased , the more clumps were formed in the box . This indicates that the wasps were capable of differentiating relative from <unk> , an adaptive ability in the defense of their nest . 
