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The Nasutitermitinae is a cosmopolitan subfamily of higher termites that includes more than 80 genera. [2] They are most recognisable by the more highly derived soldier caste which exhibits vestigial mandibles and a protruding fontanellar process on the head from which they can "shoot" chemical weaponry.
The majority of termite species have mandibulate soldiers which are easily identified by the disproportionately large sclerotized head and mandibles. [79] [81] Among certain termites, the soldier caste has evolved globular (phragmotic) heads to block their narrow tunnels such as seen in Cryptotermes. [84]
A drawing of the head of a soldier termite showing the head (H), antennae (A) and the mandibles (M). Scale bar = 0.3mm. When the nest is damaged, the soldier termites defend the nest and workers rapidly repair any damage to the nest walls. The soldiers stand on alert on their legs and scan the area with their antennae.
Soldiers: Soldier termites are larger and more robust than workers. They are equipped with well-developed mandibles (jaws) that they use for defense. Soldiers can have a slightly darker or more ...
Nasutitermes triodiae workers and "snouted" soldier castes. Nasutitermes triodiae, also known as the cathedral termite, is a grass-eating species of Nasutitermitinae termite that can be found in Northern Territory, Australia. It is also sometimes referred to as the spinifex termite, since it is found in the spinifex [1] (also known as Triodia ...
One sample included two winged termites and one soldier termite, and Scheffrahn paused. “When I saw the (soldier), it was identical to the drawing I remembered from Emerson’s 1925 paper on the ...
Trinervitermes trinervoides is a species of termite belonging to family Termitidae. It is native to and widespread in southern Africa where it inhabits mesic to semi-arid grasslands. Due to the snout on the head of soldiers, and their grass collecting habits, they are known as snouted harvester termites.
However unlike true nasutes, the mandibles of the soldiers are functional and highly developed, and they are unable to expel their chemical weaponry at a distance – instead relying on direct physical contact. Some genera, such as Syntermes or Labiotermes, have a highly reduced nasus and in some species it may appear absent altogether.