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{{Short description|Defense mechanism in which an animal explodes intentionally}}
[[File:Camponotus saundersi casent0179025 profile 1.jpg|thumb|''Camponotus saundersi'' specimen]]
'''Autothysis''' (from the [[Greek language|Greek]] roots ''autos-'' [[wikt:αὐτός|αὐτός]] "self" and ''thysia'' [[wikt:θυσία|θυσία]] "sacrifice") is the process where an animal destroys itself via an internal rupturing or explosion of an organ which ruptures the skin. The term was proposed by Maschwitz and Maschwitz in 1974 to describe the defensive mechanism of ''[[Camponotus saundersi]]'', a species of [[carpenter ant]].<ref name="springerlink.com">{{cite journal | last1 = Maschwitz | first1 = U. | last2 = Maschwitz | first2 = E. | year = 1974 | title = Platzende Arbeiterinnen: Eine neue Art der Feindabwehr bei sozialen Hautflüglern | url = http://www.springerlink.com/content/v0kjl37610tk2426/ | journal = Oecologia Berlin | volume = 14 | issue = | pages = 289–294 | doi=10.1007/BF01039798 | language=German}}</ref><ref name=bordereau>{{cite journal |author=C. Bordereau, A. Robert, V. Van Tuyen & A. Peppuy |year=1997 |title=Suicidal defensive behavior by frontal gland dehiscence in ''Globitermes sulphureus'' Haviland soldiers (Isoptera) |journal=[[Insectes Sociaux]] |volume=44|issue=3 |pages=289–297 |doi=10.1007/s000400050049}}</ref> It is caused by a contraction of muscles around a large gland that leads to the gland wall breaking. Some termites (such as the soldiers of ''[[Globitermes sulphureus]]'') release a sticky secretion by rupturing a gland near the skin of their neck, producing a [[Tar-Baby|tar baby]] effect in defense against ants. It is a form of suicidal [[altruism in animals|altruism]].<ref name="bordereau" />
'''Autothysis''' (from the [[Greek language|Greek]] roots ''autos-'' {{lang|grc|[[wikt:αὐτός|αὐτός]]}} "self" and ''thysia'' {{lang|grc|[[wikt:θυσία|θυσία]]}} "sacrifice") or '''suicidal altruism''' is the process where an animal destroys itself via an internal rupturing or explosion of an organ which ruptures the skin. The term was proposed by Ulrich Maschwitz and Eleonore Maschwitz in 1974 to describe the [[Anti-predator adaptation|defensive mechanism]] of ''[[Colobopsis saundersi]]'', a species of [[ant]].<ref name="springerlink.com">{{cite journal |last1=Maschwitz |first1=Ulrich |last2=Maschwitz |first2=Eleonore |year=1974 |title=Platzende Arbeiterinnen: Eine neue Art der Feindabwehr bei sozialen Hautflüglern |journal=Oecologia Berlin |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=289–294 |doi=10.1007/BF01039798 |pmid=28308625 |bibcode=1974Oecol..14..289M |s2cid=23644298 |language=German}}</ref><ref name=bordereau>{{cite journal |first1=Christian |last1=Bordereau |first2=Annie R. |last2=Robert |first3=V. |last3=Van&nbsp;Tuyen |first4=Alexis |last4=Peppuy |year=1997 |title=Suicidal defensive behavior by frontal gland dehiscence in ''Globitermes sulphureus'' Haviland soldiers (Isoptera) |journal=[[Insectes Sociaux]] |volume=44 |issue=3 |issn=0020-1812 |pages=289–297 |doi=10.1007/s000400050049 |s2cid=19770804 |oclc=5648298235}}</ref> It is caused by a contraction of muscles around a large gland that leads to the breaking of the gland wall. Some termites (such as the soldiers of ''[[Globitermes sulphureus]]'') release a sticky secretion by rupturing a gland near the skin of their neck, producing a tar effect in defense against ants.<ref name="bordereau"/>


==Termites==
==Termites==
{{See also|Globitermes sulphureus}}
{{See also|Globitermes sulphureus}}


Groups of termite whose soldiers have been found to use autothysis to defend their colonies include: ''[[Serritermes serrifer]]'', ''[[Dentispicotermes]]'', ''[[Genuotermes]]'' and ''[[Orthognathotermes]]''. Several species of the soldierless [[Apicotermitinae]], for example those of the ''[[Grigiotermes]]'' and ''[[Ruptitermes]]'' genera, have workers that can also use autothysis. This is thought to be one of the most effective forms of defense that termites possess as the ruptured workers block the tunnels running into the nest and it causes a one-to-one exchange between attackers and defenders, meaning attacks have a high energy cost to predators.<ref name="bordereau" /><ref>{{cite doi|10.1016/j.jinsphys.2010.02.012}}</ref>
Groups of termites whose soldiers have been found to use autothysis to defend their colonies include: ''[[Serritermes serrifer]]'', ''[[Dentispicotermes]]'', ''[[Genuotermes]]'', and ''[[Orthognathotermes]]''. Several species of the soldierless [[Apicotermitinae]], for example those of the ''[[Grigiotermes]]'' and ''[[Ruptitermes]]'' genera, have workers that can also use autothysis. This is thought to be one of the most effective forms of defense that termites possess as the ruptured workers block the tunnels running into the nest and it causes a one-to-one exchange between attackers and defenders, meaning attacks have a high energy cost to predators.<ref name="bordereau"/><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Šobotník |first1=Jan |last2=Jirošová |first2=Anna |last3=Hanus |first3=Robert |doi=10.1016/j.jinsphys.2010.02.012 |title=Chemical warfare in termites |journal=Journal of Insect Physiology |volume=56 |issue=9 |issn=0022-1910 |pages=1012–1021 |year=2010 |pmid=20223240|bibcode=2010JInsP..56.1012S }}</ref>


The soldiers of the [[Neotropic ecozone|neotropical]] termite family [[Serritermitidae]], have a defense strategy which involves front gland autothysis, with the body rupturing between the head and abdomen. When outside the nest they try to run away from attackers, and only use autothysis when in the nest, to block tunnels up, preventing attackers entering.<ref>{{cite doi|10.1111/j.1095-8312.2010.01392.x}}</ref>
The soldiers of the [[Neotropical realm|Neotropical]] termite family [[Serritermitidae]] have a defense strategy which involves front gland autothysis, with the body rupturing between the head and abdomen. When outside the nest they try to run away from attackers, and only use autothysis when in the nest to block tunnels up, preventing attackers entering.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=Biological Journal of the Linnean Society |issn=0024-4066 |title=Structure and function of defensive glands in soldiers of Glossotermes oculatus (Isoptera: Serritermitidae) |volume=99 |issue=4 |pages=839–848 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8312.2010.01392.x |year=2010 |last1=Šobotník |first1=Jan |last2=Bourguignon |first2=Thomas |last3=Hanus |first3=Robert |last4=Weyda |first4=František |last5=Roisin |first5=Yves|doi-access=free }}</ref>


Old workers of ''[[Neocapritermes taracua]]'' develop blue spots on their abdomens that are filled with copper-containing proteins. These react with a secretion from the [[labial gland]] upon autothysis to form a mixture which is toxic to other termites.<ref>{{cite doi|10.1126/science.1219129}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19001083|title=Termites' crystal backpacks help them go out with bang|publisher=BBC News|author=Nick Crumpton|date=2012-07-26|accessdate=2012-07-26}}</ref>
Old workers of ''[[Neocapritermes taracua]]'' develop blue spots on their abdomens that are filled with copper-containing proteins (blue laccase). These react with a secretion from the [[labial gland]] upon autothysis to form a mixture which is toxic to other termites.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Šobotník |first1=Jan |last2=Bourguignon |first2=Thomas |last3=Hanus |first3=Robert |last4=Demianová |first4=Zuzana |last5=Pytelková |first5=Jana |last6=Mareš |first6=Michael |last7=Foltynová |first7=Pavla |last8=Preisler |first8=Jan |last9=Cvačka |first9=Josef |last10=Krasulová |first10=Jana |last11=Roisin |first11=Yves |doi=10.1126/science.1219129 |title=Explosive Backpacks in Old Termite Workers |journal=Science |volume=337 |issue=6093 |page=436 |year=2012 |pmid=22837520|bibcode=2012Sci...337..436S |s2cid=206540025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19001083 |title=Termites' crystal backpacks help them go out with bang |publisher=BBC News |first=Nick |last=Crumpton |date=26 July 2012 |accessdate=26 July 2012}}</ref>


==Ants==
==Ants==
{{See also|Camponotus saundersi}}
{{See also|Colobopsis saundersi}}


Some ants belonging to the Camponotus genus have adapted to using autothysis as an altruistic defensive trait in order to better fight against arthropods and to possibly deter vertebrate predators for the benefit of the colony as a whole. These ants use autothysis as a self-destructive defense to protect their territory, but they use it differently than termites do, in that their primary uses for autothysis do not include blocking the tunnels of their territory from attackers, but more so for combat purposes during territorial battles.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite journal|last1=Davidson|first1=D.W.|last2=Salim|first2=K.A.|last3=Billen|first3=J.|title=Histology of structures used in territorial combat by Borneo's 'exploding ants'|journal=Acta Zoologica|date=2011|volume=93|issue=4|pages=487–491|doi=10.1111/j.1463-6395.2011.00523.x}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite journal|last1=Jones|first1=T.H.|last2=Clark|first2=D.A.|last3=Edwards|first3=A.A.|last4=Davidson|first4=D.W.|last5=Spande|first5=T.F.|last6=Snelling|first6=R.R.|title=The chemistry of exploding ants, Camponotus Spp. (Cylindricus Complex)|journal=Journal of Chemical Ecology|date=2004|volume=30|issue=8|pages=1479–1492|doi=10.1023/b:joec.0000042063.01424.28}}</ref>
Some ants belonging to the genera ''[[Camponotus]]'' and ''[[Colobopsis]]'' have adapted to using autothysis as an altruistic defensive trait to better fight against [[arthropods]] and to possibly deter vertebrate predators for the benefit of the colony as a whole. These ants use autothysis as a self-destructive defense to protect their territory, but they use it differently from termites, in that their primary uses for autothysis do not include blocking the tunnels of their territory from attackers, but more so for combat purposes during territorial battles.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite journal |last1=Davidson |first1=Diane W. |last2=Salim |first2=Kamariah A. |last3=Billen |first3=Johan |title=Histology of structures used in territorial combat by Borneo's 'exploding ants' |journal=Acta Zoologica |issn=0001-7272 |date=2011 |volume=93 |issue=4 |pages=487–491 |doi=10.1111/j.1463-6395.2011.00523.x}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite journal |last1=Jones |first1=Tim H. |last2=Clark |first2=D.A. |last3=Edwards |first3=Alan A. |last4=Davidson |first4=D.W. |last5=Spande |first5=Thomas F. |last6=Snelling |first6=Roy R. |title=The chemistry of exploding ants, Camponotus Spp. (Cylindricus Complex) |journal=Journal of Chemical Ecology |issn=0098-0331 |date=2004 |volume=30 |issue=8 |pages=1479–1492 |doi=10.1023/b:joec.0000042063.01424.28 |pmid=15537154|bibcode=2004JCEco..30.1479J |s2cid=23756265 }}</ref>


Early ants used mechanical means of stinging to defend themselves, but the stings showed to be more useful against large vertebrate predators and not as successful against other arthropods. For this reason, there was selection for autothysis in ants as a way to effectively kill more arthropod enemies. The products of autothysis in ants are sticky and corrosive substances. These substances are released by the ants’ contraction of their [[Gaster (insect anatomy)|gaster]], leading to a burst at an intersegmal fold as well as the mandibular glands. The ants use this self-sacrifice to successfully kill one or more enemies by entangling themselves in this sticky substance. The worker ant has been observed to wrap itself around an opponent, placing its dorsal gaster onto the opponents face preceding the expulsion of sticky corrosive product from its mouth and gaster, permanently sticking to the opponent while killing itself and the enemy, as well as any other enemies that become stuck to the products.<ref name="springerlink.com"/><ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="ReferenceB"/>
Early ants used mechanical means of stinging to defend themselves, but the stings showed to be more useful against large vertebrate predators and not as successful against other arthropods. So selection for autothysis in ants evolved as a way to more effectively kill arthropod enemies. The products of autothysis in ants are sticky and corrosive substances, released by the ants' contraction of their [[Gaster (insect anatomy)|gasters]], leading to a burst at an intersegmental fold as well as the mandibular glands. The ants use this self-sacrifice to kill one or more enemies which entangle themselves in this sticky substance. The worker ant has been observed to wrap itself around an opponent, placing its dorsal gaster onto the opponent's head before expelling sticky corrosive material from its mouth and gaster, permanently sticking to the opponent while killing itself and the enemy, as well as any other enemies that become stuck to the products.<ref name="springerlink.com"/><ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="ReferenceB"/>


Using autothysis for these ants is mostly used against other arthropods, like invading ant colonies or against termite colonies and are rather ineffective towards larger vertebrate predators such as lizards or birds. This self-sacrifice is most useful against arthropods because the sticky adhesives in the products work best against the bodies of other arthropods. The compounds used in autothysis, however, have also been explained to have some use in deterring vertebrate predators from eating the ants, because these products are inedible.
These ants mostly use autothysis against other arthropods, like invading ant colonies or against termite colonies, and are rather ineffective towards larger vertebrate predators such as lizards or birds. This self-sacrifice is most useful against arthropods because the sticky adhesives in the products work best against the bodies of other arthropods. The compounds used in autothysis, however, have also been explained to have some use in deterring vertebrate predators from eating the ants, because these products are inedible.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Shorter |first1=John R. |last2=Rueppell |first2=Olav |title=A review on self-destructive defense behaviors in social insects |journal=Insectes Sociaux |issn=0020-1812 |date=2011 |volume=59 |issue=1 |pages=1–10 |doi=10.1007/s00040-011-0210-x|s2cid=13257903 |url=http://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncg/f/O_Rueppell_Review_2012.pdf }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sands |first1=W.A. |title=Agonistic behavior of African soldierless apico-termitinae (Isoptera, Termitidae) |journal=Sociobiology |date=1982 |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=61–72}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Shorter|first1=J.R.|last2=Reuppell|first2=O.|title=A review on self-destructive defense behaviors in social insects|journal=Insectes Sociaux|date=2011|volume=59|issue=1|pages=1–10|doi=10.1007/s00040-011-0210-x}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Sands|first1=W.A.|title=Agonistic behavior of African soldierless apico-termitinae (Isoptera, Termitidae)|journal=Sociobiology|date=1982|volume=7|issue=1|pages=61–72}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Autohaemorrhaging]]
* [[Animal suicide]]
⚫
* [[Anti-predator adaptation]]
⚫
*[[Exploding animal]]
⚫
*[[Self-destruct]]
⚫
*[[Antipredator adaptation]]
* [[Apoptosis]]
* [[Apoptosis]]
* [[Autohaemorrhaging]]
⚫
* [[Exploding animal]]
⚫
* [[Self-destruct]]


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 13:04, 28 October 2024

Autothysis (from the Greek roots autos- αὐτός "self" and thysia θυσία "sacrifice") or suicidal altruism is the process where an animal destroys itself via an internal rupturing or explosion of an organ which ruptures the skin. The term was proposed by Ulrich Maschwitz and Eleonore Maschwitz in 1974 to describe the defensive mechanism of Colobopsis saundersi, a species of ant.[1][2] It is caused by a contraction of muscles around a large gland that leads to the breaking of the gland wall. Some termites (such as the soldiers of Globitermes sulphureus) release a sticky secretion by rupturing a gland near the skin of their neck, producing a tar effect in defense against ants.[2]

Termites

[edit]
See also: Globitermes sulphureus

Groups of termites whose soldiers have been found to use autothysis to defend their colonies include: Serritermes serrifer, Dentispicotermes, Genuotermes, and Orthognathotermes. Several species of the soldierless Apicotermitinae, for example those of the Grigiotermes and Ruptitermes genera, have workers that can also use autothysis. This is thought to be one of the most effective forms of defense that termites possess as the ruptured workers block the tunnels running into the nest and it causes a one-to-one exchange between attackers and defenders, meaning attacks have a high energy cost to predators.[2][3]

The soldiers of the Neotropical termite family Serritermitidae have a defense strategy which involves front gland autothysis, with the body rupturing between the head and abdomen. When outside the nest they try to run away from attackers, and only use autothysis when in the nest to block tunnels up, preventing attackers entering.[4]

Old workers of Neocapritermes taracua develop blue spots on their abdomens that are filled with copper-containing proteins (blue laccase). These react with a secretion from the labial gland upon autothysis to form a mixture which is toxic to other termites.[5][6]

Ants

[edit]
See also: Colobopsis saundersi

Some ants belonging to the genera Camponotus and Colobopsis have adapted to using autothysis as an altruistic defensive trait to better fight against arthropods and to possibly deter vertebrate predators for the benefit of the colony as a whole. These ants use autothysis as a self-destructive defense to protect their territory, but they use it differently from termites, in that their primary uses for autothysis do not include blocking the tunnels of their territory from attackers, but more so for combat purposes during territorial battles.[7][8]

Early ants used mechanical means of stinging to defend themselves, but the stings showed to be more useful against large vertebrate predators and not as successful against other arthropods. So selection for autothysis in ants evolved as a way to more effectively kill arthropod enemies. The products of autothysis in ants are sticky and corrosive substances, released by the ants' contraction of their gasters, leading to a burst at an intersegmental fold as well as the mandibular glands. The ants use this self-sacrifice to kill one or more enemies which entangle themselves in this sticky substance. The worker ant has been observed to wrap itself around an opponent, placing its dorsal gaster onto the opponent's head before expelling sticky corrosive material from its mouth and gaster, permanently sticking to the opponent while killing itself and the enemy, as well as any other enemies that become stuck to the products.[1][7][8]

These ants mostly use autothysis against other arthropods, like invading ant colonies or against termite colonies, and are rather ineffective towards larger vertebrate predators such as lizards or birds. This self-sacrifice is most useful against arthropods because the sticky adhesives in the products work best against the bodies of other arthropods. The compounds used in autothysis, however, have also been explained to have some use in deterring vertebrate predators from eating the ants, because these products are inedible.[9][10]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Maschwitz, Ulrich; Maschwitz, Eleonore (1974). "Platzende Arbeiterinnen: Eine neue Art der Feindabwehr bei sozialen Hautflüglern". Oecologia Berlin (in German). 14 (3): 289–294. Bibcode:1974Oecol..14..289M. doi:10.1007/BF01039798. PMID 28308625. S2CID 23644298.
  2. ^ a b c Bordereau, Christian; Robert, Annie R.; Van Tuyen, V.; Peppuy, Alexis (1997). "Suicidal defensive behavior by frontal gland dehiscence in Globitermes sulphureus Haviland soldiers (Isoptera)". Insectes Sociaux. 44 (3): 289–297. doi:10.1007/s000400050049. ISSN 0020-1812. OCLC 5648298235. S2CID 19770804.
  3. ^ Šobotník, Jan; Jirošová, Anna; Hanus, Robert (2010). "Chemical warfare in termites". Journal of Insect Physiology. 56 (9): 1012–1021. Bibcode:2010JInsP..56.1012S. doi:10.1016/j.jinsphys.2010.02.012. ISSN 0022-1910. PMID 20223240.
  4. ^ Šobotník, Jan; Bourguignon, Thomas; Hanus, Robert; Weyda, František; Roisin, Yves (2010). "Structure and function of defensive glands in soldiers of Glossotermes oculatus (Isoptera: Serritermitidae)". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 99 (4): 839–848. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.2010.01392.x. ISSN 0024-4066.
  5. ^ Šobotník, Jan; Bourguignon, Thomas; Hanus, Robert; Demianová, Zuzana; Pytelková, Jana; Mareš, Michael; Foltynová, Pavla; Preisler, Jan; Cvačka, Josef; Krasulová, Jana; Roisin, Yves (2012). "Explosive Backpacks in Old Termite Workers". Science. 337 (6093): 436. Bibcode:2012Sci...337..436S. doi:10.1126/science.1219129. PMID 22837520. S2CID 206540025.
  6. ^ Crumpton, Nick (26 July 2012). "Termites' crystal backpacks help them go out with bang". BBC News. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  7. ^ a b Davidson, Diane W.; Salim, Kamariah A.; Billen, Johan (2011). "Histology of structures used in territorial combat by Borneo's 'exploding ants'". Acta Zoologica. 93 (4): 487–491. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6395.2011.00523.x. ISSN 0001-7272.
  8. ^ a b Jones, Tim H.; Clark, D.A.; Edwards, Alan A.; Davidson, D.W.; Spande, Thomas F.; Snelling, Roy R. (2004). "The chemistry of exploding ants, Camponotus Spp. (Cylindricus Complex)". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 30 (8): 1479–1492. Bibcode:2004JCEco..30.1479J. doi:10.1023/b:joec.0000042063.01424.28. ISSN 0098-0331. PMID 15537154. S2CID 23756265.
  9. ^ Shorter, John R.; Rueppell, Olav (2011). "A review on self-destructive defense behaviors in social insects" (PDF). Insectes Sociaux. 59 (1): 1–10. doi:10.1007/s00040-011-0210-x. ISSN 0020-1812. S2CID 13257903.
  10. ^ Sands, W.A. (1982). "Agonistic behavior of African soldierless apico-termitinae (Isoptera, Termitidae)". Sociobiology. 7 (1): 61–72.
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