Ant and Related Entomology Terms

A symbiont, usually a scavenger, a parasite, or a predator, which is treated with hostility by the host colony: An insect, like a beetle, can be a synechthran which thrives in a state of unwelcomeness among other insects, like ants

A symbiont that is treated with indifference by the host colony: A synoekete can be any insect that does not interact with or socialize with the host insects.

The release of a pheromone by a leader ant that recruits a nest mate for tandem running: Tandem calling, also termed "tandem running", involves odor signals used by scouts that employ chemical cues to lead then back to the source of food, or help to attract others in the nest.

A form of communication, used by the workers of certain ant species during exploration or recruitment: During tandem running, one individual follows closely behind another ant, frequently contacting the abdomen of the leader with its antennae.

The physical contact with the tarsi of insects: Tarsation is especially the touching of another insect as a tactile signal.

The foot of an insect: The tarsus is the one-segmented to five-segmented appendage attached to the tibia, or lower leg segment.

Any taxonomic entity, such as a particular species or genus: A taxon refers to a scientific classification of a group or entity, like the taxonomic unit of subspecies.

Parasitism in which a queen of one species enters an alien nest, usually belonging to another species, kills or renders the resident queen infertile, and takes her place: In a temporary social parasitism, the population of the colony then becomes increasingly dominated by the offspring of the parasite queen as the host workers die from natural causes.

A reference to the dorsal (upper) surface.

A dorsal sclerite; in other words, a portion of the body wall bounded by sutures and located in a dorsal position.

A termite nest.

Also, an artificial nest used in the laboratory to house termites.

The scientific study of termites.

An organism that must spend at least part of its life cycle with termite colonies.

A substance deposited on or around the nest that is colony specific or species specific and aids in the exclusion of alien colonies.

An area occupied more or less exclusively by an animal or group of animals; such as, an ant colony, by means of repulsion through overt defense or aggressive advertisement.