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Mar. 30, 2009 05:13 PM

It does seem quite amazing that tiny insects tunneling underground are able to locate houses perched on top of the ground, and then find a way inside to feed on the wood. How do they do that? First, they have thousands of years of experience; second, they practice to perfection one of the lessons you learned in school: sharing and cooperation. Lastly, subterranean termites firmly believe in the phrase "better living through chemistry."

Worker termites move underground along natural edges and channels: buried logs, tree roots, and pipes. Sometimes they make their own path through the soil, usually in the direction of moisture. This tunneling and foraging behavior helps them survive because it usually leads to a food source (and that may be your house). When one of the wandering workers locates food, the sharing and cooperation behavior kicks in. The individual worker or a small group of workers will be at the food for a short time, but then return to the nest or go out and recruit other workers to the food. Sharing food is key to colony survival. Because workers feed and groom each other, the energy put into foraging by individuals pays off for everyone.

Now for the chemistry - this is what makes termite food scavenging work. Workers returning from the newly found food leave a chemical trail behind them. Other workers pick up the scent trail and follow it back to the food through the maze of underground tunnels. These workers may feed for a while and then move out to recruit other nestmates. Soon there is a large number of workers at the food site. If things go very well, they might move the queen to the new site - then the party really starts to rock.

 

 

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