Thursday 9 March 2023

Nitro-Nosh: Why Termites’ Molted Exoskeletons Never Go to Waste | Entomology Today

Closeup overhead view of a soldier Asian subterranean termite on a light gray background. Termite body is slightly tear-drop shaped and light yellowish brown in color. Its head is nearly as large as its body, also tear-drop shaped but darker honey brown in color with two long reddish brown mouthparts extending forward from its face.

This post Nitro-Nosh: Why Termites’ Molted Exoskeletons Never Go to Waste appeared first on Entomology Today - Brought to you by the Entomological Society of America.

Termites' wood-heavy diet offers little nitrogen, a critical nutrient for growth and reproduction. But their exoskeletons are nitrogen rich, and new research shows that eating shed exoskeletons after molting is a core strategy for recycling nitrogen throughout the termite colony and boosting the queen's egg-laying.

The post Nitro-Nosh: Why Termites’ Molted Exoskeletons Never Go to Waste appeared first on Entomology Today.

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