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"Exploding" Termite Species Discovered

Posted by samzenpus on from the needs-of-the-many dept.

ananyo writes "A species of termite found in the rainforests of French Guiana takes altruism seriously: aged workers grow sacks of toxic blue liquid that they explode onto their enemies in an act of suicidal self-sacrifice to help their colonies. The 'explosive backpacks' of Neocapritermes taracua grow throughout the lifetimes of the worker termites, filling with blue crystals secreted by a pair of glands on the insects' abdomens. Older workers carry the largest and most toxic backpacks. Those individuals also, not coincidentally, are the least able to forage and tend for the colony: their mandibles become dull and worn as the termites age, because they cannot be sharpened by moulting (abstract)."

5 of 158 comments (clear)

  1. I propose we name them... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Banelings 1.0

  2. maximum age crystals by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Scientists have discovered small crystals embedded in the ants' palms that turn to a different color when the ant's maximum age has been reached. However, in one colony they observed two ants trying to escape this fate by running away from the colony and finding sanctuary. Other ants were tasks with hunting down the two runners and terminating them.

  3. Agism in the Workplace? by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    Older workers carry the largest and most toxic backpacks. Those individuals also, not coincidentally, are the least able to forage and tend for the colony: their mandibles become dull and worn as the termites age

    "and get off my #@!& lawn!" KABOOOM!
       

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  4. Re:The suicide bombers of the insect world. by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    no, they just want the pleasures of 72 maggots.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  5. Re:Exploding ants by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    So basically what you're saying is, in order to create banelings, they ... require more minerals?