How Do Termites Commmunicate?
Termites are social insects that live in complex colonies of a million or more. Although they cannot see or hear in the way humans do, they have developed ways to communicate through chemicals, vibration and contact. These techniques allow termites to sense danger, find food, reproduce and perform other functions.
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Smell
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Termites communicate primarily through chemicals known as pheromones. Termites secrete pheromones to indicate food sources, signal danger and select mates. Each colony has its own unique odor.
Vibration
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To signal danger to the colony, termites hit their heads against the sides of their tunnels, the piece of wood they are eating or another surface. Termites sense these signals as vibrations through their legs and antennae.
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Physical Contact
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Termites also communicate through physical contact. They groom one another and exchange food. They also bump into each other to communicate alarm.
Visual Clues
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Most termites are blind. Inside their dark colonies, they do not need visual clues, although light might play a role in communication outside of their colonies.
Potential
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In 2007, Mississippi State University researchers found that termites are attracted to vibrations emitted by the wavelengths of certain electrical fields. The researchers have developed a technology that uses radio waves to lure termites to bait stations (see Resources).
Fun Fact
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Thousands of termites hitting their heads against a surface can produce noise loud enough for humans to hear.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Wikimedia Commons/Raul Heinrich
