Termites use vibrations to eavesdrop on predatory ants

Animals detect many signal types, including light, chemicals, sound and vibrations, some of which come from their environment, some they produce themselves. Signals are used deliberately to communicate and can be detected by predators or parasites. The role of vibrational communication in predator-prey relationships has received limited attention. One such relationship is that between termites and ants, which often live in close proximity with evidence of this evolutionary arms race dating back millions of years ago. Apart from having soldiers to drum alarm signals and to slow down predators' attacks, termites rely on mechanisms to avoid being contacted and detected. However, being cryptic also limits their ability to explore and assess foraging sites. Our previous research shows that despite being blind, (a) termites use vibrations of their feeding to assess food size; and (b) the drywood secundus workers use vibrations to eavesdrop to discriminate their own kin from and avoid their main subterranean competitor, Coptotermes (Co.) acinaciformis. In this paper, we will discuss our recent results that Co. acinaciformis can detect its main predator, the ant Iridomyrmex pupureus, by detecting its footsteps of which the frequency and magnitude are similar to that of the alarm signal of Co. acinaciformis. The application of the engineering noise control principle to develop vibration-based termite control technologies will be discussed.