The termite with a squirt-gun face

Nasute termite defense

Meet the nasute soldier: a termite defender with a horn-like nasus and greatly reduced jaws. Nature built a squirt gun. 🐜

Nasute termite defense

The frontal gland stores a viscous chemical secretion, then sends it through the nasus, the fontanellar gun. 💦

Nasute termite defense

Sticky secretion can hamper or immobilize attackers; chemical components can irritate or repel them. A tiny spray, a very bad day. 🕸️

Nasute termite defense

Termite: stored secretion through a gland-and-nozzle. Bombardier beetle: reaction-powered spray in rapid pulses. Same drama, different mechanism. 🧪

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