Formosan Subterranean Termite Communication

Mechanical Sensory System: Hair-like extensions on exoskeleton The hairs enable termites to react to touch, pressure and vibration Termites have hair-like extensions on their exoskeleton that are the main component of their mechanical sensory system. These hairs enable termites to react to touch, pressure and vibration. Termite body hair is similar to hair on our bodies (i.e. when someone touches the hair on your arm, you can feel that someone is touching you). The vibrational information they gather guide orientation, general movements, feeding and flight from enemies. Soldiers exploit this sensory system by banging their heads against the colony walls, causing vibrations warning others about an impending threat.

Mechanical Sensory System: Hair-like extensions on exoskeleton Termites have hair-like extensions on their exoskeleton that are the main component of their mechanical sensory system. These hairs enable termites to react to touch, pressure and vibration. Termite body hair is similar to hair on our bodies (i.e. when someone touches the hair on your arm, you can feel that someone is touching you). The vibrational information they gather guide orientation, general movements, feeding and flight from enemies. Soldiers exploit this sensory system by banging their heads against the colony walls, causing vibrations warning others about an impending threat. Soldiers utilize the mechanical sensory system by hitting their heads against the walls, producing vibrations warning others about possible danger

Chemical Sensory System: Chemical Receptors One area that chemical receptors can be found is on the antennae Antennal segment of Schedorhinotermes lamanianus http://www.uni-bayreuth.de/departments/tphys/kaib/kaib2.html Detect different pheromones (chemicals) Physiology of Chemoreceptors in Termites Chemoreceptors located on termite antennae are the primary chemical processors. Many insects, termites included, release chemical signals called pheromones. Instead of “smelling” scent signals like us, termites detect and respond to actual chemicals that form a scent. Pheromones are species specific with little meaning to outsiders. Pheromones deliver various messages and are involved in behaviors such as feeding, mating, and defense. They are the main means of communication among termites. For instance, foraging workers will release trail pheromones from their abdomen to recruit other workers when a food source is located. As workers arrive at the scene the trail pheromone is intensified, allowing more workers to find the trail and food source regardless of the distance from the nest site. Another aid in chemical receptions is the many holes found on the exoskeleton that allow air and other odors to enter the termite body. Communication implies that specific signals originating from conspecifics or from the environment (food) are specifically recognised by the recipients. In the blind termites, communication is based on chemical as well as on mechanical signals. http://www.uni-bayreuth.de/departments/tphys/kaib/kaib2.html Chemoreceptors are located in sensilla and are mainly found on the antennae. Here several morphological types of sensilla and physiological types of sensory cells are found. The aim of this project is to identify, by electrophysiological and behavioural approaches, the antennal sensory cells which are specific to e.g. pheromones or chemical compounds originating from food. Such sensilla could be useful in monitoring wood susceptible or resistant to termite attack. Holes found on the exoskeleton that allow air and other chemicals to enter the termite body

Grooming and Communicating Grooming cleans the body of soil, fungus, bacteria, and parasites Grooming stimulates the mechanical sensory system and chemical receptors Grooming Grooming is an important aspect of communication between termites. This action cleans the body of soil, fungus, bacteria, and parasites and stimulates the mechanical and chemical receptors. It is thought that grooming sometimes activates feeding behavior or trophallaxis, which leads to the exchange of liquid food and or chemical secretions (such as pheromones) released by various caste members. The exchange of pheromones within the colony can determine such aspects of how many workers or soldiers are need to be produced and the suppression or initiation of secondary reproductives. Grooming activates feeding behavior, which leads to the exchange of liquid food and or chemicals released by various caste members