Page 121 - Design in Nature

The Termite Colony and Its Chemical Defensive Systems 119

A termite defends its
colony even at the price
of its own life. In the
picture is a termite
spraying adhesive fluid
on an attacking ant.

entering the royal cell. Smaller soldiers help the workers in food gathering
and repair of the nest.
The royal guards have been created for battle; they have shield-like
heads and razor-sharp mandibles designed for defence. 10% of the body
weight of the large soldiers is comprised of special fluids. These fluids are
composed of open-chain hydrocarbons (alkenes and alkanes) and are stored
inside sacs located to the front of their bodies. Royal guards inject these

chemical fluids into wounds inflicted on enemies by means of their lower
jaws.
What exactly do these fluids applied to enemies do? Researchers
encountered a very astounding fact in answering this question. The fluids
applied by the termites act to prevent the enemies' blood from clotting. In
the bodies of ants there is a fluid called "haemolymph" which acts as blood.
When there is an open wound in the body, another chemical starts