How do termites follow a trail?

Since termites are blind and cannot hear, they rely on smell to navigate. They navigate by following the scent of a pheromone, which is a chemical they secrete to send information to their buddies. It so happens that a chemical in certain ink pens smells just like a pheromone, so they’ll follow the trail.

What is termite behavior?

Swarming is the most visible sign of termite behavior around homes. Termites swarm in order to mate and start new colonies. Subterranean termite colonies can produce thousands of swarmers, while others species of termites, such as drywood termites, produce fewer swarmers and may have less noticeable swarms.

Why do termites use trail pheromones?

Trail pheromones are chemical markers that lead termites along a path to food and help them return to the colony once they’ve found it. Termite workers following trail pheromones march along the designated path, sniffing their way forward with their antennae.

What lines do termites follow?

The reason they follow some ballpoint pen lines is because the ink contains a chemical that acts as an insect pheromone.

• Termite Pheromones and Ballpoint Ink. Worker and soldier termites are completely blind.
• Watch Termites Follow an Ink Trail.
• Ink Trails as Pest Control.
• Reference.

Why is trail-following behavior ecologically and evolutionarily important?

Trail-following behavior is a key to ecological success of termites, allowing them to orient themselves between the nesting and foraging sites. This behavior is controlled by specific trail-following pheromones produced by the abdominal sternal gland occurring in all termite species and developmental stages.

Why do termites follow 2-phenoxyethanol?

2-phenoxyethanol A chemical added to the ink in some pens to make it dry quickly. This chemical also mimics a termite’s trail pheromone — a type of chemical signal used tell other colony members where they can find food.

What are the social Behaviour in termites?

All termites communicate with each other inside the nest. They do so through a series of vibrations and pheromones. Termites are able to recognize members of their own nest by those pheromones, or scents. They are also able to distinguish their caste.

How intelligent are termites?

Like ants and bees (described in previous posts Remarkable Bee Brain and Ant Intelligence Update), termites exhibit remarkable individual and group intelligence. The amazing behavior of termites is described in this termite intelligence update. Insect intelligence has been described in previous posts.

Why is trail following behavior ecologically and evolutionarily important?

Do termites follow pencil lines?

When termites are placed near a doodle drawn with this ink, they follow the lines drawn on the paper as if they were following a path to a food source. You may have noticed that termites do not follow all ink trails.

What are food trail pheromones?

Trail pheromones communicate information about food quality to nestmates that have not had direct experience with a food source. Trail-laying behavior regulates pheromone concentration (i.e., the amount of pheromone deposited on a trail), which in turn controls a colony’s response.