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Termites can distinguish nestmates and non-nestmates through chemical communication and gut symbionts: compounds consisting of hydrocarbons released from the cuticle allow the recognition of alien termite species.148149 Every colony has its own distinct odour. This odour is due to genetic and environmental factors such as the termites' diet and the composition of these bacteria within the termites' intestines.150.

Termites rely on alert communication to defend a colony.134 Alarm pheromones can be released when the nest has been broken or is being attacked by enemies or potential pathogens. Termites always avoid nestmates infected with Metarhizium anisopliae spores, through vibrational signals released by infected nestmates.151 Additional methods of defence include intense jerking and secretion of fluids in the frontal gland and defecating faeces containing alarm pheromones.134152.

In some species, a few soldiers block tunnels to prevent their enemies from entering the nest, and they might deliberately rupture themselves as an act of defence.153 In cases where the intrusion is coming out of a breach which is bigger than the soldier's head, defence demands a distinctive formations where soldiers shape a phalanx-like formation around the breach and sting at intruders.154 When an invasion completed by Megaponera analis is successful, an entire colony may be destroyed, although this scenario is infrequent.154.

To termites, any breach of the tunnels or nests is a cause for alarm. When termites detect a potential breach, the soldiers usually bang their minds, apparently to entice different troops for defence and to recruit additional employees to repair any breach.56 Additionally, an alarmed termite bumps into other termites that induces them to become alarmed and to leave pheromone trails to the distressed area, which can be a way to recruit additional workers.56.

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The pantropical subfamily Nasutitermitinae has a specialised caste of soldiers, known as nasutes, that have the ability to exude noxious fluids via a horn-like frontal projection that they use for defence.155 Nasutes have lost their mandibles throughout the course of evolution and must be fed by employees.59 A vast array of monoterpene hydrocarbon solvents have been identified in the liquids which nasutes secrete.156 Similarly, Formosan subterranean termites have been known to secrete naphthalene to safeguard their nests.157.

Soldiers of the species Globitermes sulphureus commit suicide by autothysis  rupturing a huge gland just beneath the surface of their cuticles. The thick, yellow fluid in the gland becomes very tacky on contact with the atmosphere, entangling ants or other insects that are trying to invade the nest.158159 Another termite, Neocapriterme taracua, additionally engages in this post suicidal defence.

When soldiers guarding nest entrances are attacked by intruders, they engage in autothysis, creating a cube which denies entry to any outsider.161.

Employees use many different strategies to take care of their deceased, including burying, cannibalism, and avoiding a corpse entirely.162163164 To avoid pathogens, termites occasionally engage in necrophoresis, in which a nestmate carries away a corpse in the colony to eliminate it everywhere.165 Which approach is used depends on the nature of the corpse a employee is dealing with (i.e.

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A species of fungus is known to mimic termite eggs, successfully avoiding its natural predators. These tiny brown chunks, known as"termite balls", rarely kill the eggsand in certain cases the employees tend to them.166 This fungus mimics these eggs by producing a cellulose-digesting enzyme known as glucosidases.167 A unique mimicking behavior exists between different species of Trichopsenius beetles and certain particular species within Reticulitermes.

This chemical mimicry allows the beetles to integrate themselves within the termite colonies.168 The developed appendages on the physogastric abdomen of Austrospirachtha mimetes enables the beetle to mimic a termite worker.169.

Some species of ant have been known to capture termites to use as a brand new food source after on, rather than killing them. For instance, Formica nigra captures termites, and those who attempt to escape are immediately captured and driven underground.170 Certain species of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae conduct these raids although other ant species go in alone to steal the eggs or nymphs.146 Ants like Megaponera analis attack the exterior of mounds and Dorylinae ants attack underground.146171 Despite this, some termites and ants can coexist peacefully.

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54 species of ants are known to inhabit Nasutitermes mounds, both occupied and abandoned ones.174 One reason many ants click here to read reside in Nasutitermes mounds is due to the termites' frequent occurrence in their own geographical range; another would be to shield themselves from flooding.174175 Iridomyrmex also inhabits termite mounds but no evidence for any kind of relationship (other than the usual predatory one) is known.116 In rare situations, certain species of termites live inside active ant colonies.176 Some invertebrate organisms such as beetles, caterpillars, flies and millipedes are termitophiles and reside inside termite colonies (they are unable to survive independently).56 As a result, certain beetles and flies have evolved with their hosts.