Complex Behaviors in Termites: Mechanisms and Evolution

Termites are among the most abundant terrestrial organisms on the planet and form one of the two largest eusocial groups alongside the holometabolous, haplodiploid Hymenoptera. Having evolved from cockroaches 150 million years ago, termites exhibit unique social behaviors, in part influenced by their hemimetabolous, diploid nature. Research on termite behavior has historically been limited by their cryptic lifestyles, among other factors. However, the recent decade has seen notable progress in the field of termite behavioral research, in part due to a greater awareness of basic termite biology. Here, we review the current understanding of various areas of termite behavior, including hygiene, foraging, and vibroacoustic communication. Where relevant, we draw comparisons with other eusocial lineages, highlighting how differences in evolutionary history may lead to either convergent or divergent solutions to similar challenges.