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Exploding termites sacrifice themselves to protect their colony

Science

July 27, 2012

By: Lucien Gendrot

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Altruism isn’t something people frequently associate with animals, in fact altruism doesn’t often evolve in the animal world because it doesn’t usually help with reproductive chances. Only in very social–often hive or colony based–animals does altruism evolve, and based on the “kin selection” model of altruistic behaviors it evolves because related individuals sacrifice their own reproductive success for the success of their relatives, increasing the overall fecundity of their shared genes.

An incredible species of termites has recently been discovered that exhibits a very special sort of defensive altruism, according to a new study published in Science Magazine. Neocapritermes taracua, which produces a toxic copper containing chemical in a specialized “backpack” on its back which explodes when enemy termites bite it with their mandibles, is the first termite ever discovered with an external defensive pouch.

Video: Exploding termites defend their colony

It has been found that the oldest termites are the ones that contain the most toxic substances in their backpacks. The behavior of the older termites, in sacrificing themselves, makes sense evolutionarily when considering that older termites’ mandibles have dulled over time, and cannot be sharpened by molting as they can be in their younger counterparts. In such a social species of animal the only recourse for an individual who has lost its efficiency as a worker is to switch to defense, and Neocapritermes taracua has developed a very novel and interesting way of doing so.

Other termite species have been known to produce toxic chemicals in their excrement, which they are able to excrete at high velocity and with astonishing accuracy, but this external type of specialized defense mechanism hasn’t been seen in termites before. The white chemical becomes much more lethal when it is mixed with the saliva of another termite, turning it blue and adding to the efficacy of the mechanism as defensive. “This kind of adaptation would not evolve in a solitary context; this shows the power of eusociality, and why these insects are so successful.” says Olav Rueppell, an evolutionary biologist who works at the University of North Carolina, according to Nature.com.

Make sure to watch the video to see an example of the termites' defense mechanism in action.

Suggested by the author:

Cat adopts bird: Animal altruism

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Lucien Gendrot,
Santa Barbara Science News Examiner

Having been interested in the issues surrounding sexuality in today's culture, Luc Gendrot has finally started writing about them to vent his frustration at the current state of affairs. Well versed in the news and culture surrounding the GLBTQ community, Luc enjoys writing about the fluidity of...

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