Which Pheromones Are Used By Termites For Communication?

This review discusses the functions of all termite pheromones identified so far and the chemical interactions among termites and other organisms. Termites use a multi-component aggregation pheromone, consisting of aromatic compounds, hydrocarbons, fatty acids, and cholesterol, to coordinate their activities and communicate with each other.

Termites use chemical signaling to coordinate their work and communicate with each other. Each caste of termites communicates through chemical signaling, such as releasing pheromones that help in recognizing nest mates, marking trails to food sources, and alerting the colony to danger. The most known termite semiochemicals are alarm, trail, sex pheromones, and hydrocarbons responsible for the recognition of nestmates.

Termites use vibratory signals in combination with chemical signals, resulting in complex alarm communication. For example, in M. darwiniensis, soldiers release trail pheromones when the termite presses its abdomen down onto the surface it is tracking over. Termite kings and queens produce a chemical of carbon and hydrogen atoms (heneicosane) on the surface of their bodies.

Termites use chemical signaling to communicate with one another within the colony. Each family group, known as castes, produces a distinct termite pheromone. Alarm pheromones are used to alert others of danger, trail pheromones to guide others to food sources, and queen pheromones to regulate the termite body. During their lifetime, a king or queen termite emits a pheromone that tells other members of the nest that there is no need for them.

What Pheromones Do Termites Follow?

Defence pheromones acinaciformis comprise volatile chemicals including monoterpenes, diterpenes, and sesquiterpenes that attract more termites to defend their colony. This behavior mirrors the pheromone use in eusocial hymenopterans, observed for over 50 years, enabling termites to perform essential societal tasks. Trail-following pheromones, secreted by sternal glands universal among termite species, play a crucial role in the ecological success of termites. These chemicals help termites navigate between nesting and foraging sites by marking trails. When a termite presses its abdomen onto a surface, it releases these pheromones, aiding in orientation.

Phylogenetic constraints simplify the pheromone complexity in basal termite families, impacting their trail-following behaviors. In evolutionary studies of chemical communication, research focused on both sex and trail-following pheromones, specifically identifying (10Z, 13Z)-nonadeca-10, 13-dien-2-one as the sole component of the trail pheromone from Serritermes serrifer. Contrary to popular belief, termites do not respond to black, red, or even ink from felt pens; instead, they are attracted to blue ink due to the compound 2-phenoxyethanol, which mimics their trail pheromone.

In summary, termite pheromones such as alarm, trail, and sex pheromones, along with hydrocarbons for nestmate recognition, facilitate crucial interactions and behaviors within the colony. Volatile pheromones benefit the colony, while durable contact pheromones have applications in human exploitation. Overall, the complexity and functionality of termite pheromones illustrate key aspects of their social organization and survival strategies.

How Do Termites Communicate?

Termites are fascinating insects known for their unique communication methods, which include chemical signals, vibrations, and physical contact. They primarily use pheromones to convey messages within their colonies, alerting members to dangers or guiding them towards food sources. This chemical communication can be intercepted or imitated by predators and inquilines, like the termite-raiding ant Odontoponera transversa. Furthermore, termites engage in tactile communication by touching their antennae and producing vibrations through head-banging against tunnel walls to signal threats.

Social structures among termites are complex, featuring a caste system where each member fulfills a specific role, with most castes being blind. Communication is crucial to their social activities. Recent studies have examined the components of termite communication, emphasizing the evolutionary aspects and the signalling systems involved. While vibrations and pheromones are critical, body language also plays a role, as termites can send various signals through their posture and movement. For instance, raised postures may indicate anger.

When disturbances occur, termites typically respond with dramatic shaking and drumming, sometimes producing audible sounds to onlookers. They depend on both chemical signals and vibratory cues for communication about food, danger, and reproduction. Various species exhibit alarm reactions through vibrations generated by head-banging, while termite kings and queens release specific chemicals, like heneicosane, for colony regulation. Understanding these communication strategies enhances our knowledge of termite behavior and social dynamics.

What Smell Do Termites Hate The Most?

Clemson University scientists have discovered that termites strongly dislike certain smells, particularly those from essential oils. Key scents that repel termites include cedarwood, geranium, tea tree oil, clove bud, cinnamon, garlic, orange oil, and neem oil. Utilizing these natural and eco-friendly substances offers a non-toxic alternative to chemical pesticides, effectively protecting homes from termite infestations.

Termites are especially averse to the aromatic properties of citrus scents derived from oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, which they find repugnant. Other types of wood, such as cypress and pine, also produce deterrent odors, making cypress mulching a helpful strategy. The top seven smells that termites hate include:

1. Cedarwood Oil
2. Orange Oil
3. Neem Oil
4. Garlic
5. Cinnamon
6. Clove Bud Oil
7. Tea Tree Oil

These scents can serve as natural repellents when applied to wooden structures or as barriers around properties. Termites are also sensitive to vinegar, mint, and cayenne pepper, which can enhance deterrent measures.

Many people seek solutions to rid their homes of termites, and natural ingredients offer effective strategies without harming the insects’ colonies. Direct sunlight and dry heat further discourage termite activity, reinforcing the need to combine various methods for optimal protection. By incorporating these organic ingredients, homeowners can create a strong barrier against termites, safeguarding their homes.

Why Do Termites Like Bic Pens?

Pheromones play a crucial role for termites, guiding them back to food sources from their nests. Interestingly, certain ballpoint pen inks, specifically black and blue inks from brands like BIC and Papermate, contain chemicals that inadvertently mimic these pheromones. This discovery was made entirely by accident, revealing that termites are attracted to the ink trails made by these specific pens. While termites also follow other black (85%) and blue (80%) ink trails, they show no interest in red ink and do not respond to felt-tip or rollerball pen inks.

A key chemical responsible for this behavior is 2-phenoxyethanol, an ingredient found in many ballpoint pen inks that helps the ink dry quickly. However, this chemical has structural similarities to the trail-following pheromones produced by termites. When the sternal gland of a termite contacts a surface, it secretes pheromones, guiding others. The smell of 2-phenoxyethanol, lasting around 15 minutes, is enough to entice termites to follow the ink trail as if it were a genuine food pathway.

Notably, termites display brand loyalty, favoring blue ink from Papermate and BIC over other options. Through various studies, researchers have confirmed that termites do not follow black, red, or felt-tip pen ink trails. Their reliance on smell allows them to navigate, as they are blind and deaf, making pheromone-scented trails vital for communication within their colonies.

When placed near doodles drawn with blue ink from these particular pens, termites tend to follow the lines, mistaking them for food sources. The structural similarity of specific ink chemicals to actual pheromones leads to this fascinating behavior, demonstrating an unusual interaction between termites and commonplace writing instruments. Essentially, termites utilize chemical cues in a surprising context, which reveals insights about their navigational habits and the peculiar effects of certain household objects on insect behavior.

Why Do Termites Use Allelochemicals In Pheromone Communication?

The use of allelochemicals among termites enhances pheromone communication, illustrating a sophisticated layer of semiochemical parsimony. The evolution of their pheromone communication system is influenced by social structure, lifestyle, and habitat. This review offers a comprehensive summary of the identified termite pheromones and the chemical interactions they engage in with other organisms. Notably, using data from the antennal transcriptome and genome of Prorhinotermes simplex, four candidate OR sequences were selected for study.

Eusocial termites excel in chemical communication, often utilizing minimal pheromone components. Termites are categorized by their feeding habits into one-piece and multiple-piece nesting types. Key families include Archotermopsidae, Kalotermitidae, and Rhinotermitidae for one-piece, while Mastotermitidae and Hodotermopsidae pertain to multiple-piece nests. Chemical communication is paramount, employing either olfactory or gustatory stimuli through a diversity of chemical substances.

Pheromones serve critical functions, including caste coordination and interaction among numerous individuals. Techniques for identifying pheromone locations include dissection and stimulation creation. Additionally, interspecific communication comprises signals between different species, with termites and beetles in particular using γ-cadinene. The intricate chemical communication system assists in maintaining social structures within colonies. Pheromones promote both intra- and interspecies interactions. This review collates various findings regarding termite pheromones and highlights their significant role in recruitment and social organization among social insects like bees, termites, and ants.

Do Termites Have Pheromones?

In termites and social hymenopterans, the role of pheromones in social activities has been long speculated (Wilson, 1965), although termite studies primarily concentrate on trail-following and sex pheromones. We propose that termites may have repurposed defensive and antimicrobial compounds into pheromones for caste recognition and specialized roles. Trail pheromones, produced by sternal glands across all termite species, are released when a termite presses its abdomen onto a surface.

Despite extensive research on trail-following communication in various species, "higher" termites from the subfamily Syntermitinae have been notably overlooked. Each termite caste communicates through chemical signals, aiding in recognizing nest mates, marking food trails, and signaling alerts to the colony. Soldier termites also utilize pheromone trails for foraging and exploration. Termites rely heavily on pheromones for coordination among the vast number of individuals in their colonies.

These chemical signals consist of mixtures from exocrine glands throughout the termite body, including alarm, trail, sex pheromones, and hydrocarbons that facilitate nestmate recognition. Significant findings highlight the presence of pheromones across termite species, although royal-recognition pheromones have yet to be identified. Furthermore, the pheromone communication system in termites aligns with that of other social insects, such as wasps, bees, and ants, emphasizing the importance of chemical signaling in their eusocial structure.

What Termite Pheromones Have Been Identified As Important For Trail Following?

Dodecatrienol serves as a trail pheromone in various termite species, including Reticulitermes virginicus, R. speratus, and Coptotermes formosanus, providing a nonspecific orientation signal across diverse Reticulitermes species and other termite groups. The study highlights the significance of (3Z, 6Z, 8E)-dodeca-3, 6, 8-trien-1-ol, a prevalent communication chemical among termites, while also noting shifts to different pheromones in species like S.

euamignathus. Solvent extracts of sternal glands were collected from workers in Brazil or French Guiana, processed using bi-distilled hexane, and utilized in bioassays. Trail pheromones were first identified in R. virginicus and have since been detected in numerous termite species, except in a few like Prorhinotermes simplex and Amitermes evuncifer. These pheromones originate from sternal glands observed in all castes of termites. The research points to a thorough understanding of trail-following pheromones within Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae families while establishing their evolutionary relevance.

Behavioral experiments confirmed that C. cyphergaster's trail pheromone includes neocembrene and (3Z, 6Z, 8E)-dodeca-3, 6, 8-trien-1-ol. Though I. microcerus did not present a specific compound, workers still responded to the identified components, further emphasizing the use of pheromones in termite foraging and communication. This study serves as a pioneering investigation into the trail pheromone blends in termites and notes the importance of social insect pheromones in regulating complex behaviors within termite colonies.

Which Group Of Insects Will You Most Likely Find Using Trail Pheromone?

Trail pheromones are primarily produced by social insects, especially ground foragers like ants and termites, though some nonsocial insects utilize them as well. Ants, for instance, use trail pheromones to coordinate their roles in nest defense and foraging. When ants discover a food source, they lay down a pheromone trail, with the concentration indicating the food source quality; a higher concentration signals a more rewarding resource. Some species, such as Lasius niger ants, can "eavesdrop" on trails from other species. Honey bees (Apis mellifera) obtain trail pheromones directly from plants, using compounds like geraniol.

Trail-marking pheromones are volatile, short-lived chemicals that evaporate unless reinforced and are produced in large quantities. These pheromones play vital roles in communication among ants, coordinating their activities such as foraging and defending against threats from predators or parasites. Various types of pheromones, including sex, alarm, and aggregation pheromones, significantly influence insect behaviors.

When a worker ant finds a resource, it lays down a trail leading back to the colony for others to follow. This behavior is also observed in other social insects, including bees and wasps. Researchers study these pheromonal systems to understand how insects communicate and can manipulate these pheromones for pest control, encouraging ants to follow synthetic trails to poisoned food.

In summary, trail pheromones are essential for social insects, facilitating efficient foraging and community coordination, while also offering insights into insect behavior and potential pest management strategies. Their effectiveness depends on the precise chemical cues they provide in a social context, making them a crucial aspect of insect ecology.