Termite: Difference between revisions

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===Soldiers===
The soldier caste has anatomical and behavioural specializations, primarily against ant attack. Many have jaws so enlarged that they cannot feed themselves, but instead, like juveniles, are fed by workers. The tropical ''Nasutus'' species have soldiers with the ability to exude noxious liquids through either a horn-like nozzle (nasus) or simple hole in the head ([[fontanelle]]). Many species are classified using the characteristics of the soldiers' heads, mandibles or nasus due to distinct differences with each species. Among the drywood termites, a soldier's enlarged (phragmotic) head can be used to block their narrow tunnels. Termite soldiers mostly require the aid of the nest to perform war duty since they have undeveloped eyes which are blind. They use their heads, nasus or mandibles to defend tunnels effectively. With a tunnel blocked so effectively it can rebuff attacks from many ants. Usually more soldiers stand by behind the initial soldier so once the first one falls another soldier will take his place. In cases where the intrusion is coming from a breach that is larger than the soldier's head, defense requires special formations where soldiers form a [[phalanx]]-like formation around the breach blindly biting at intruders or shooting toxic glue from the [[nasus]]. This formation involves self sacrifice because once the breach is repaired during fighting by the workers no return is provided causing the death of all the defenders. Termites undergo incomplete [[metamorphosis (biology)|metamorphosis]], with their freshly hatched young taking the form of smalltiny termites that grow without significant morphological changes.
 
== Diet ==