Some termites of the speciesNeocapritermes taracuathey present someblue spots on your back that contain explosive crystals. These individuals are usually the oldest in the colony and act on suicide missions to protect their companions, according to a study published inScience.
The researchers, from the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (Prague), found that these spots exploded when punctured, and during encounters with other species of termites or predators. Furthermore, the secretions released during the explosion are capable ofparalyze and even kill opponents, according to the study.
Kamikaze termites have shorter, downward-sloping jaws, indicating that these individuals are of advanced age. The blue spots contain a protein rich in copper, which the researchers say could be an enzyme capable of converting an initially harmless protein into a toxic compound. “When the termite explodes, the contents of the pouch on its back interact with other salivary secretions and it is this mixture that is toxic”, explains Robert Hanus, one of the authors of the study.
This is not the first time that explosive termites have been described, but the known cases were ofcastes of soldiers, not worker termites. Since the species studied has its caste of soldiers, it is surprising to find workers who explode, explains Hanus.
Another question that remains to be resolved is whyageleads to the accumulation of these blue crystals. “We are not 100% sure about the role of this blue protein,” acknowledges the researcher, “it is something we will continue to investigate.”
