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Termites can distinguish nestmates and non-nestmates through chemical communication and gut symbionts: chemicals consisting of hydrocarbons discharged from the cuticle permit the recognition of alien termite species.148149 Each colony has its own distinct odour. This odour is a result of genetic and environmental elements such as the termites' diet and also the composition of the bacteria within the termites' intestines.150.

Termites rely on alarm communication to defend a colony.134 Alarm pheromones can be discharged when the nest has been broken or is being attacked by enemies or potential pathogens. Termites constantly avoid nestmates infected with Metarhizium anisopliae spores, through vibrational signals released by infected nestmates.151 Other methods of defence include intense jerking and secretion of fluids from the frontal gland and defecating faeces containing alarm pheromones.134152.

In some species, a few soldiers block tunnels to prevent their enemies from entering the nest, and they might deliberately rupture themselves as an act of defence.153 In cases where the intrusion is coming out of a violation which is larger than the soldier's mind, defence requires a distinctive formations where soldiers shape a phalanx-like formation around the breach and bite at intruders.154 If an invasion carried out by Megaponera analis is successful, an entire colony could be destroyed, although this scenario is infrequent.154.

To termites, any violation of their tunnels or nests is a cause for alarm. When termites discover a potential violation, the soldiers usually bang their minds, apparently to attract different soldiers for defence and to recruit additional employees to repair any breach.56 Additionally, an alarmed termite bumps into other termites which induces them to become alarmed and to leave pheromone trails to the disturbed area, which can be a way to recruit additional workers.56.

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The pantropical subfamily Nasutitermitinae includes a specialised caste of soldiers, known as nasutes, that possess the capability to exude noxious fluids via a horn-like frontal projection they utilize for defence.155 Nasutes have dropped their mandibles through the plan of evolution and must be fed by employees.59 A vast array of monoterpene hydrocarbon solvents like it have been identified in the fluids which nasutes secrete.156 Similarly, Formosan subterranean termites have been known to secrete naphthalene to protect their nests.157.

Soldiers of those species Globitermes sulphureus commit suicide by autothysis  rupturing a large gland just beneath the surface of their cuticles. The thick, yellowish fluid in the gland gets very sticky on contact with the atmosphere, entangling ants or other insects that are trying to invade the nest.158159 Another termite, Neocapriterme taracua, also engages in suicidal defence.

When soldiers guarding nest entrances are attacked by intruders, they engage in autothysis, creating a block which denies entry to any outsider.161.

Workers use many different approaches to deal with their dead, including burying, cannibalism, and avoiding click here now a corpse entirely.162163164 To prevent pathogens, termites occasionally engage in necrophoresis, in which a nestmate conveys away find more info a corpse from the colony to eliminate it elsewhere.165 Which strategy is utilized depends on the nature of the corpse a employee is dealing with (i.e.

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A species of fungus is known to mimic termite eggs, successfully avoiding its natural predators. These tiny brown balls, known as"termite balls", seldom kill the eggsand in certain cases the employees tend to these.166 This fungus mimics these eggs by producing a cellulose-digesting enzyme known as glucosidases.167 A unique mimicking behavior exists between various species of Trichopsenius beetles and certain particular species within Reticulitermes.

This chemical mimicry makes it possible for the beetles to integrate themselves within the termite colonies.168 The developed appendages on the physogastric abdomen of Austrospirachtha mimetes enables the beetle to mimic a termite worker.169.

Some species of ant are known to catch termites to utilize as a brand new food source after on, rather than killing them. For instance, Formica nigra captures termites, and those who try to escape are instantly captured and driven underground.170 Certain species of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae conduct these raids although other ant species move in alone to steal the eggs or nymphs.146 Ants such as Megaponera analis attack the outside of mounds and Dorylinae ants attack underground.146171 Despite this, some termites and ants can coexist peacefully.

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54 species of ants are known to inhabit Nasutitermes mounds, both inhabited and abandoned ones.174 One reason many ants reside in Nasutitermes mounds is due to the termites' frequent occurrence in their geographical range; another would be to shield themselves from flooding.174175 Iridomyrmex also inhabits termite mounds but no evidence for any kind of relationship (other than the usual predatory one) is known.116 In rare situations, certain species of termites reside inside active ant colonies.176 Some invertebrate organisms such as beetles, caterpillars, flies and millipedes are termitophiles and dwell inside termite colonies (they are unable to survive independently).56 As a consequence, certain beetles and flies have evolved with their hosts.