Termites

Worker and soldier termites from Belize. Until recently, termites were given their own order, Isoptera; however, DNA analysis has shown that they are actually a subgroup of order Blattodea. This means that, evolutionarily speaking, termites are an offshoot of highly social cockroaches.

Arboreal termites, Nasutitermes sp., from Panama. These soldiers are defending an opening to the nest with sophisticated chemical weaponry - this caste can spray their attackers with a noxious, sticky liquid from their heads!

A termite column of staggering size from Koh Chang Island, Thailand. This colony stretched for dozens of meters and must have been composed of tens of thousands of individuals.

Termites (Isoptera) from Panama. Although they were once considered a separate order, recent phylogenetic studies have revealed that termites are actually a lineage of highly social roaches within the Blattodea.