They might be close in terms of appearance but ants and termites are far from friends. These little critters share a hostility that can be traced back millions of years, one that often manifests in their respective armies fighting to the death. In spite of this, blind termites have been known to go about their activities within just millimeters of ant nests. So how do they keep the peace? Australian scientists believe they have found the answer – the termites' ability to hear micro-vibrations produced by the footprints of predatory ants, a trait that helps them avoid confrontation and might offer valuable lessons for counter-espionage and pest control.
Category: Biology
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from New Atlas http://ift.tt/2l8PMN3
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