9/13/2023 0 Comments Download free grounded termite![]() ![]() We investigated whether drywood termites could eavesdrop on vibration cues from subterranean species. Termites communicate vibro-acoustically and, as these signals can travel over long distances, they are vulnerable to eavesdropping. This is especially surprising when drywood species, with colonies of a few hundred, are found cohabiting with subterranean species, with colonies of millions. ![]() Termites compete for resources with deadly consequences, yet more than one species can be found feeding in the same wooden resource. Eavesdropping on passive walking signals explains the predator detection and foraging behaviours in this ancient relationship, which may be applicable to many other predator–prey relationships.Ĭompetition exclusion, when a single species dominates resources due to superior competitiveness, is seldom observed in nature. Comparison of 16 termite and ant species found the ants-walking signals were up to 100 times higher than those of termites. We found the termite Coptotermes acinaciformis detected their major predator, the ant Iridomyrmex purpureus, through thin wood using only vibrational cues from walking, and not chemical signals. We observed termites foraging within millimetres of ants in the field, suggesting the evolution of specialised detection behaviours. Termites communicate mostly by way of substrate-borne vibrations, which suggest they may be able to eavesdrop, using two possible mechanisms: ant chemicals or ant vibrations. Communication signals of social species may be particularly vulnerable to eavesdropping, such as pheromones produced by ants, which are predators of termites. Eavesdropping has evolved in many predator–prey relationships.
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