Trophallaxis

Trophallaxis is the direct transfer of fluid and food between individuals, typically through mouth-to-mouth (stomodeal) or anus-to-mouth (proctodeal) feeding. Along with nutrients, trophallaxis can involve the transfer of molecules such as proteins, hormones, organisms such as symbionts, and information to serve as a form of communication. Trophallaxis is used by some birds, gray wolves, vampire bats, and is most highly developed in eusocial insects such as ants, wasps, bees, and termites.

Like lactation, trophallaxis transmits socially transferred materials between bodies.

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Source: Wikipedia · Image: Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

EUSOCIALITY

The science of social life — ants, bees, termites, mole-rats and the biology of cooperation, kinship, and colony behavior.

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