Mastodawn

🐜🏘️ Invasive subterranean #termites are moving through #Florida at an alarming rate.

New #research shows that warming temperatures are allowing these destructive #insects to expand their territory farther north than ever before.

👉 https://www.popsci.com/environment/termite-spread-florida/

#entomology #science #environment #STEM #climatechange #climate

Termites are swarming Florida even faster than predicted

Most of the state may be fighting the invasive species by 2050.

Popular Science

Max Jan 30

I just learned that #termites contain bacteria in their gut that produce lots of #CO2 and #H2 from the wood fibers they eat. AND THEN they have ANOTHER type of bacteria that feeds on the #CO2 and #H2 , to produce acetate that in turn THE #termites THEMSELF eat! How cool!

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0019316

https://doi.org/10.1126/science.257.5075.1384

#CODH #enzymes #microbiome

Anaerobic Carbon Monoxide Dehydrogenase Diversity in the Homoacetogenic Hindgut Microbial Communities of Lower Termites and the Wood Roach

Anaerobic carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH) is a key enzyme in the Wood-Ljungdahl (acetyl-CoA) pathway for acetogenesis performed by homoacetogenic bacteria. Acetate generated by gut bacteria via the acetyl-CoA pathway provides considerable nutrition to wood-feeding dictyopteran insects making CODH important to the obligate mutualism occurring between termites and their hindgut microbiota. To investigate CODH diversity in insect gut communities, we developed the first degenerate primers designed to amplify cooS genes, which encode the catalytic (β) subunit of anaerobic CODH enzyme complexes. These primers target over 68 million combinations of potential forward and reverse cooS primer-binding sequences. We used the primers to identify cooS genes in bacterial isolates from the hindgut of a phylogenetically lower termite and to sample cooS diversity present in a variety of insect hindgut microbial communities including those of three phylogenetically-lower termites, Zootermopsis nevadensis, Reticulitermes hesperus, and Incisitermes minor, a wood-feeding cockroach, Cryptocercus punctulatus, and an omnivorous cockroach, Periplaneta americana. In total, we sequenced and analyzed 151 different cooS genes. These genes encode proteins that group within one of three highly divergent CODH phylogenetic clades. Each insect gut community contained CODH variants from all three of these clades. The patterns of CODH diversity in these communities likely reflect differences in enzyme or physiological function, and suggest that a diversity of microbial species participate in homoacetogenesis in these communities.

adam l’anatra has moved Jan 8

Nothing like a mild day to bring out the #termites Noticed them starting to swarm on the foundation while taking down the x-mas lights. Sprayed liberally and will be calling the exterminator later. (I’m waiting for the #carpenterants to wake up next.) Very #discouraging #homeownership is a drag. #insect #adulting

Charring Auh Dec 30

#termites are a group of detritophagous eusocial cockroaches[3][4][5][6] which consume a variety of decaying plant material, generally in the form of wood, leaf litter, and soil humus. They are distinguished by their moniliform antennae and the soft-bodied, unpigmented worker caste for

Charring Auh Dec 30

Mikko Tuomi Dec 29

Mammals have developed some unusual eating habits over the past 100 million years, but a new study has uncovered the surprising lengths to which some have gone to satisfy one of the more peculiar—a taste for #ants and #termites.

Mammals independently evolved specialized adaptations for exclusively feeding on ants and termites at least 12 times since the #Cenozoic era began, roughly 66 million years ago.

The #convergent #evolution among #mammals toward this dietary strategy—called #myrmecophagy—emerged following the K-Pg #extinction and fall of non-avian dinosaurs, which reshaped ecosystems and set the stage for ant and termite colonies to rapidly expand worldwide.

Over 200 mammal #species are known to eat ants and termites today, yet only about 20 true myrmecophages—such as giant anteaters, aardvarks and pangolins—have evolved traits like long sticky tongues, specialized claws and stomachs, and reduced or missing teeth, to efficiently consume thousands of these insects daily as their sole food source.

#evolution #ecology #biology
https://phys.org/news/2025-07-mammals-evolved-ant-eaters-dinosaur.html

Vida et al. (2025):
https://academic.oup.com/evolut/article-abstract/79/10/2315/8155241

Mammals have evolved into ant eaters 12 times since the dinosaur age, study finds

Phys.org

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Kevin Karhan

Nov 15

@NanoRaptor Now I'm glad #Termites ain't a thing in #Europe!

Natasha Taylor Oct 31

These adorable creatures are Nasutitermes walkeri, the native Australian tree #termite! Accidentally damaged their tube while trying to photograph something else, which exposed them for this photo!

#WildOz #OzInverts #MacroPhotography #Meanjin #Brisbane #Australia #Nature #Arthropod #Insect #Termites

N-gated Hacker News Oct 27

Ars Technica has cooked up a story about #termites curating their gardens like tiny, six-legged Martha Stewarts. 🐜🌿 Apparently, these industrious insects are the new pioneers in pest management, proving yet again that humans are just playing catch-up with bugs. 🙄🔍
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/10/termite-farmers-fine-tune-their-weed-control/ #gardening #pestmanagement #natureinnovation #entomology #HackerNews #ngated