How do subterranean termites communicate?

Subterranean termites primarily communicate using colony-specific pheromones. These chemical signals play a crucial role in their social structure and behavior, allowing them to convey various messages such as alarm, food location, and reproductive status. Pheromones are particularly effective in a dark environment, like the tunnels and colonies of subterranean termites, where visual communication is limited and sound cannot carry efficiently.

Using these chemical cues, termites can coordinate complex behaviors, such as foraging and defending the colony. The specificity of the pheromones ensures that only members of the same colony can understand these signals, maintaining the integrity and unity of the group. This method of communication is essential for the survival and efficiency of the colony, enabling them to carry out tasks that are vital for their growth and safety.

In contrast, while sound and vibrations can be part of communication in some insect species, they are not the primary method for subterranean termites. Visual signals and color changes are also not significant for communication among these insects, given their subterranean lifestyle and the environments they inhabit.