Termites are among the most successful animals on Earth, forming vast societies that can number in the millions. But how did ...

Termites are the descendants of cockroaches, and have undergone significant genetic change to live in vast colonies where ...

Termites became social powerhouses by stripping away genes tied to competition and independence. This genetic shedding locked in monogamy, boosted cooperation, and paved the way for their ...

Termites did not evolve complex societies by adding new genetic features. Instead, scientists found that they became more ...

Researchers traced termite DNA back to cockroach ancestors and found genetic loss played a key role in building social ...

Physogastric termite queen (top left) of Macrotermes michaelseni being groomed by workers and the larger king, with soldiers in the foreground. Photo by Jan Sobotnik.

A queen Oecophylla smaragdina ant Didier Descouens via Wikimedia under CC BY-SA 4.0 Small animals don’t usually grow very old. Since they’re always at risk of becoming another critter’s quick snack, ...

Tracing the emergence of termites back to cockroaches, scientists have found that termites didn’t become more socially complex by gaining new genes, but by losing them. The findings shed new light on ...

Termites are among the most successful animals on Earth, forming vast societies that can number in the millions. But how did ...