What term describes a social unit of eusocial animals where individuals cannot survive alone for long periods?

The term that best describes a social unit of eusocial animals, where individuals cannot survive alone for long periods, is "superorganism." This concept refers to a collective organization in which individual members, such as worker bees, ants, or termites, work together to achieve the survival and functioning of the entire colony or community. In a superorganism, the interconnectedness and interdependence of the individuals allow them to perform specialized roles, such as foraging, nursing, and defending the nest, which increases the survival chances of the group as a whole.

Unlike solitary colonies, where individuals can survive independently without the need for social interaction or cooperation, members of a superorganism are adapted to live in a cooperative environment and rely on one another for various life-sustaining activities. A beekeeping society does not describe the biological structure or function of the animals themselves but rather relates to human practices around managing bee populations. The term "hive cluster" refers more specifically to the physical grouping of bees within a hive, emphasizing their social behavior in a confined space rather than the broader concept of a superorganism.