ArticleScientific reports2020
Termite's Twisted Mandible Presents Fast, Powerful, and Precise Strikes.
Article in Scientific reports, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 22 citations in OpenAlex.
- The predatory behavior of ants: an impressive panoply of morphological adaptations.Insect science · 2026Review
- A new ultrafast movement enables escape at low temperature.Communications biology · 2025Article
- Article
- Investigation of the rate-mediated form-function relationship in biological puncture.Scientific reports · 2023Article
- Alarm communication predates eusociality in termites.Communications biology · 2023Article
- The ultrafast snap of a finger is mediated by skin friction.Journal of the Royal Society, Interface · 2021Article
- Termite evolution: mutualistic associations, key innovations, and the rise of Termitidae.Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The asymmetric mandibles of termites are hypothetically more efficient, rapid, and powerful than the symmetric mandibles of snap-jaw ants or termites. We investigated the velocity, force, precision, and defensive performance of the asymmetric mandibular snaps of a termite species, Pericapritermes nitobei. Ultrahigh-speed recordings of termites revealed a new record in biological movement, with a peak linear velocity of 89.7-132.4 m/s within 8.68 μs after snapping, which caused an impact force of 105.8-156.2 mN. High-speed video recordings of ball-strike experiments on termites were analysed using the principle of energy conservation; the left mandibles precisely hit metal balls at the left-to-front side with a maximum linear velocity of 80.3 ± 15.9 m/s (44.0-107.7 m/s) and an impact force of 94.7 ± 18.8 mN (51.9-127.1 mN). In experimental fights between termites and ant predators, Pe. nitobei killed 90-100% of the generalist ants with a single snap and was less likely to harm specialist ponerine ants. Compared with other forms, the asymmetric snapping mandibles of Pe. nitobei required less elastic energy to achieve high velocity. Moreover, the ability of P. nitobei to strike its target at the front side is advantageous for defence in tunnels.
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