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Document Type:	Artigo
Title:	The nature of alarm communication in Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Blattodea: Termitoidea: Termitidae): the integration of chemical and vibroacoustic signals
Authors:	Cristaldo, Paulo Fellipe Jandák, Vojtĕch Kutalova, Kateřina Rodrigues, Vinícius Barros Brothánek, Marek Jiřıć̌ek, Ondřej De Souza, Og Francisco Fonseca Šobotnık, Jan
Issue Date:	2015
Resumo :	Alarm signalling is of paramount importance to communication in all social insects. In termites, vibroacoustic and chemical alarm signalling are bound to operate synergistically but have never been studied simultaneously in a single species. Here, we inspected the functional significance of both communication channels in Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae), confirming the hypothesis that these are not exclusive, but rather complementary processes. In natural situations, the alarm predominantly attracts soldiers, which actively search for the source of a disturbance. Laboratory testing revealed that the frontal gland of soldiers produces a rich mixture of terpenoid compounds including an alarm pheromone. Extensive testing led to identification of the alarm pheromone being composed of abundant monoterpene hydrocarbons (1S)-α-pinene and myrcene, along with a minor component, (E)-β-ocimene. The vibratory alarm signalling consists of vibratory movements evidenced as bursts; a series of beats produced predominantly by soldiers.Exposing termite groupsto various mixtures containing the alarm pheromone (crushed soldier heads, frontal gland extracts, mixture of all monoterpenes, and the alarm pheromone mixture made of standards) resulted in significantly higher activity in the tested groups and also increased intensity of the vibratory alarm communication, with the responses clearly dose-dependent. Lower doses of the pheromone provoked higher numbers of vibratory signals compared to higher doses. Higher doses induced long-term running of all termites without stops necessary to perform vibratory behaviour. Surprisingly, even crushed worker heads led to low (but significant) increases in the alarm responses, suggesting that other unknown compound in the worker’s head is perceived and answered by termites. Our results demonstrate the existence of different alarm levels in termites, with lower levels being communicated through vibratory signals, and higher levels causing general alarm or retreat being communicated through the alarm pheromone.
Keywords:	Alarm communication Alarm pheromone Defence Isoptera Nasutitermitinae Vibroacoustic communication
ISSN:	2046-6390
Is part of:	Biology open
Language:	eng
Publisher / Institution :	Company of Biologists
Citation:	CRISTALDO, P. F. et al. The nature of alarm communication in Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Blattodea: Termitoidea: Termitidae): the integration of chemical and vibroacoustic signals. Biology open, Cambridge, v. 4, n. 12, p. 1649–1659, 2016. Disponível em: https://journals.biologists.com/bio/article/4/12/1649/1375/The-nature-of-alarm-communication-in. Acesso em: 28 maio 2026.
License:	Creative Commons Atribuição 3.0 Não Adaptada (CC BY 3.0)
Identifier:	https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.014084
URI:	https://ri.ufs.br/jspui/handle/riufs/25191
Appears in Collections:	DECO - Artigos de periódicos

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