Multimedia Gallery
Metaphorical Chessboard-Termite Heirarchy
When two clans of termites wage battle, scientists have shown that succession to royalty is achieved by offspring that have stayed home as helpers. This metaphorical chessboard situation shows the dark queen termite deposed, and the king in grave danger of check mate. At the same time, the white team's pawn of the eyeless worker caste ascends to royal (reproductive) status with crown hovering overhead. Menacing soldier "rooks" patrol the sidelines.
This image accompanied NSF press release, "Homebound Termites Answer 150-Year-Old Evolution Question."
Credit: Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation
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