Isoptera
Termites
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General Description
Chemicals used in defense: termites
Source and Additional Information
Different termite species protect themselves using various chemical poisons.
"Florida resident Prorhinotermes are created possessing a poison rubbing technique. They make use of chemicals called 'nitroalkane' as poisons. Many other termites also use methods involving the application of poisons, but the amazing point is the different chemical structures of all these poisons. For instance, an African Schedorhinotermes utilise 'vinyl ketones'. Guyanan termites have 'B-ketoaldehydes' and Armitermes termites have a 'molecular string' as poison and chemicals called 'esters' or 'lactones' as their weapons. All of these poisons immediately react with biological molecules and cause death." (Yahya 2002:120-121)
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References
- Harun Yahya. 2002. Design in Nature. London: Ta-Ha Publishers Ltd. 180 p.
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Arches provide structural support: termites
Source and Additional Information
The nests of termites gain structural support for chambers, ventilation shafts, and insulating cavities because arches are the main architectural element.
"The basic building step in many termites involves gluing fecal pellets to make arches; the arches, supporting a network of other arches, provide most of the structural strength needed to support specialized chambers, ventilation shafts, and insulating cavities, and they supply convenient walkways as well. Recycling feces is a superb way to turn a problem into a solution…The construction of the arches goes well beyond flexibility and variation…Columns are neither too close nor too far apart to permit the subsequent construction of arches." (Gould and Gould 2007:142-144)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
References
- Gould, James L; Gould, Carol Grant. 2007. Animal architects: building and the evolution of intelligence. New York: Basic Books. 324 p.
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Liquids protect against ants: termites
Source and Additional Information
Liquids secreted by termites are used to fight attacking ants because they contain anti-coagulants.
"The fluids applied by the termites act to prevent the enemies' blood from clotting. In the bodies of ants there is a fluid called 'haemolymph' which acts as blood. When there is an open wound in the body, another chemical starts coagulation and enables the wound to heal. The chemical fluid from termites renders this clot-forming chemical useless." (Yahya 2002:119-120)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
References
- Harun Yahya. 2002. Design in Nature. London: Ta-Ha Publishers Ltd. 180 p.
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Gut microbes digest cellulose: termites
Source and Additional Information
Guts of termites digest cellulose via microbial symbionts.
"Termites do not digest cellulose directly…instead they collect vegetation, chew it up, and leave the chemical breakdown to other organisms. There are two strategies. The most primitive termites swallow the vegetation and pass it to a fermentation chamber where anaerobic bacteria and protozoa break down the cellulose…More advanced species have a different feeding strategy. The energy source is still cellulose, but it is digested outside the termite's body…Fungi is the only kingdom of organisms able to digest cellulose in air, though they need warmth and humidity to do the job efficiently." (Gould and Gould 2007:132-133)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
References
- Gould, James L; Gould, Carol Grant. 2007. Animal architects: building and the evolution of intelligence. New York: Basic Books. 324 p.
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Mounds shed water: West African termites
Source and Additional Information
Mounds of West African termites are built to shed water via mushroom-like shape.
"In West Africa and other areas where there is heavy rain, the colonies build nests like mushrooms with flat roofs which shed the water." (Attenborough 1979:100)
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References
- Attenborough, David. 1979. Life on Earth. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company. 319 p.
Ventilated nests remove heat and gas: termites
Source and Additional Information
The ovoid nests of termites carry away dangerous accumulations of heat and carbon dioxide via ventilation shafts.
"The outside of this ovoid bunker is perforated by a series of vents or tubes (or vents converging on circumferential tubes giving rise to more vents, or an arrangement even more elaborate); the structure of these vents and tubes is so unique that they are often used for species identification. As a rule, the vents run down from the inside to the outside, which would keep dripping moisture out and draw cool air up and into the structure. The entire home is suspended from all walls on arching pillars. Ventilation shafts bring cool fresh air in and carry warm stale air out." (Gould and Gould 2007:136)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
References
- Gould, James L; Gould, Carol Grant. 2007. Animal architects: building and the evolution of intelligence. New York: Basic Books. 324 p.
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"Isoptera". Encyclopedia of Life, available from "http://www.eol.org/pages/742". Accessed
19 Mar 2010.
