Introduction to the special section on Biology of Termites

Abstract

As descendants of social cockroaches, termites have an intriguing biology that makes them highly suitable study subjects in a wide variety of fields, such as eusocial evolution, ageing mechanisms, wood decomposition, ecosystem engineering, and pest management. This special section presents four studies ranging from the role of chemical compounds in foraging behaviour and food digestion to genetics and physiology of reproduction. Taken together, these studies offer new insights and ample suggestions for future work on these fascinating insects.