Page 119 - Design in Nature

The Termite Colony and Its Chemical Defensive Systems 117

Termites conduct extremely organised battles against their worst enemies, the ants and
ant-eating animals. They are so determined in their defences that even the blind workers
throw themselves on the intruders in order to help the soldiers to overcome the enemy.
Above, the picture shows workers dedicated to helping soldiers with distinctly large heads.

compound that renders their enemies ineffective. In case of attack, when
squeezed harshly by an ant or any other intruder the termite contracts its
stomach muscles and raptures the lymph tissues, which saturates the
predator with a thick, yellow-coloured fluid. Worker termites in Africa and
South America utilise a similar method. This is exactly a suicide attack since
the internal organs of the creature are fatally damaged and the creature dies
shortly thereafter.
If the offensive attack is very strong, then even the workers enter the

battle in order to help the soldiers.
Termites' teamwork and such sacrifice destroys the fundamental
assertion of Darwinism that "every creature lives for its own interest".
Furthermore, these examples show these creatures to be organised in a very
amazing way. For instance, why should a termite want to be a guardian? If