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Termites can distinguish nestmates and non-nestmates through chemical communication and gut symbionts: compounds consisting of hydrocarbons discharged from the cuticle permit the recognition of alien termite species.148149 Every colony has its own distinct odour. This odour is a result of genetic and environmental elements such as the termites' diet and also the composition of the bacteria within the termites' intestines.150.

Termites rely on alert communication to defend a colony.134 Alarm pheromones can be released when the nest has been broken or is being assaulted by enemies or potential pathogens. Termites always avoid nestmates infected with Metarhizium anisopliae spores, through vibrational signals released by infected nestmates.151 Additional methods of defence include intense jerking and secretion of fluids from the frontal gland and defecating faeces containing alarm pheromones.134152.

In certain species, some soldiers obstruct tunnels to prevent their enemies from entering the nest, and they might intentionally repaint themselves as an act of defence.153 In scenarios where the intrusion is coming from a breach that is larger than the soldier's head, defence requires a special formations where soldiers shape a phalanx-like formation around the violation and sting at intruders.154 If an invasion carried out by Megaponera analis is powerful, an entire colony may be destroyed, although this scenario is infrequent.154.

To termites, any violation of their tunnels or nests is a cause for alarm. When termites discover a potential breach, the soldiers normally bang their heads, apparently to attract other soldiers for defence and also to recruit additional workers to repair any breach.56 Additionally, an alarmed termite bumps into other termites that induces them to be alarmed and to leave pheromone trails to the disturbed area, which can be a means to recruit extra workers.56.

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The pantropical subfamily Nasutitermitinae has a specialised caste of soldiers, known as nasutes, that have the capability to exude noxious fluids via a horn-like frontal projection that they utilize for defence.155 Nasutes have lost their mandibles throughout the plan of evolution and have to be fed by workers.59 A vast array of monoterpene hydrocarbon solvents have been identified in the liquids that nasutes secrete.156 Likewise, Formosan subterranean termites have been known to secrete naphthalene to safeguard their nests.157.

Soldiers of the species Globitermes sulphureus commit suicide by autothysis  rupturing a large gland just beneath the surface of their cuticles. The thick, yellow fluid in the gland becomes quite sticky on contact with the atmosphere, entangling ants or other insects which are trying to invade the nest.158159 Another termite, Neocapriterme taracua, also engages in suicidal defence.

When soldiers guarding nest entrances are attacked by intruders, they engage in autothysis, creating a block that denies entry to any outsider.161.

Workers use several different approaches to deal with their dead, including burying, cannibalism, and avoiding a corpse entirely.162163164 To prevent pathogens, termites occasionally engage in necrophoresis, in which a nestmate conveys away a corpse from the colony to dispose why not try this out of it elsewhere.165 Which approach is used depends on the nature of the corpse a employee is dealing with (i.e.

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A species of fungus is known to mimic termite eggs, successfully avoiding its natural predators. These tiny brown balls, known as"termite balls", seldom kill the eggsand in certain cases the employees tend to them.166 This fungus mimics these eggs by producing a cellulose-digesting innovative pest control enzyme known as glucosidases.167 A unique mimicking behavior exists between various species of Trichopsenius beetles and certain particular species within Reticulitermes.

This chemical mimicry allows the beetles to integrate themselves within the termite colonies.168 The developed appendages on the physogastric abdomen of Austrospirachtha mimetes enables the beetle to mimic a termite worker.169.

Some species of ant have been known to catch termites to utilize as a fresh food source after on, rather than killing them. By way of instance, Formica nigra captures termites, and people who try to escape are immediately captured and driven underground.170 Certain species of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae conduct these raids although other ant species move in alone to steal the eggs or nymphs.146 Ants such as Megaponera analis attack the outside of mounds and Dorylinae ants assault underground.146171 Despite this, some termites and ants can coexist peacefully.

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54 species of ants are known to inhabit Nasutitermes mounds, both inhabited and abandoned ones.174 One reason many ants live in Nasutitermes mounds is due to the termites' frequent occurrence in their own geographical range; another is to shield themselves from flooding.174175 Iridomyrmex also inhabits termite mounds although no evidence for any kind of relationship (other than the usual one) is known.116 In rare situations, certain species of termites live inside busy ant colonies.176 Some invertebrate organisms such as beetles, caterpillars, flies and millipedes are termitophiles and reside inside termite colonies (they are unable More about the author to survive independently).56 As a consequence, certain beetles and flies have evolved with their hosts.