Nature's Explosive Heroes: The Self-Sacrificing Termites of French Guiana

In the lush forests of French Guiana, a remarkable termite, Neocapritermes taracua, has evolved an extraordinary defense. Older worker termites carry a toxic "rucksack" on their backs, filled with a powerful enzyme. When their colony is threatened, these termites make the ultimate sacrifice: they rupture their bodies, releasing a deadly, sticky substance that can immobilize or kill predators instantly.

For years, how these termites safely carried such a volatile toxin remained a mystery. Recently, scientists uncovered the secret. The enzyme, BP76, is tightly folded into a stable, three-dimensional structure, allowing it to remain primed for action without risk of premature explosion. This stability ensures that when the time comes, the termite's sacrifice delivers maximum impact.

Some random termites that are probably not the termites being talked about.

As these termites age, their mandibles dull, making them less effective in their usual roles. In their final act of service, they use their toxic payload to protect the colony, dying as heroes. It’s a fascinating glimpse into nature’s intricate and, at times, ruthless strategies for survival.

Sources :

• https://www.cell.com/structure/abstract/S0969-2126(24)00278-8

• https://www.livescience.com/animals/insects/kamikaze-termites-blow-themselves-up-with-explosive-rucksacks-and-scientists-just-figured-out-how

• https://www.vice.com/en/article/scientists-finally-discovered-how-kamikaze-termites-blow-themselves-up/

This is a bit less marine orientated than usual, but it was too cool not to post.

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