Termites explode to defend their colonies

Older workers use chemical reaction to increase toxicity of 'explosive backpacks'.



Older worker termites of Neocapritermes taracua (top right and bottom right) develop blue pouches that can explode to harm their enemies. The yellow-headed termite is a soldier.


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 (see video).

Termites explode to defend their colonies : Nature News & Comment