Incredibly interesting Science!

quote Autothysis, or suicidal altruism is the process where an animal destroys itself via an internal rupturing or explosion of an organ which ruptures the skin. The term was proposed to describe the defensive mechanism of a species of ant. It is caused by a contraction of muscles around a large gland that leads to the breaking of the gland wall, releasing a sticky secretion and producing a tar effect in defense against ants. Termites: There are groups of termites whose soldiers have been found to use autothysis to defend their colonies. This is thought to be one of the most effective forms of defense that termites possess as the ruptured workers block the tunnels running into the nest and it causes a one-to-one exchange between attackers and defenders, meaning attacks have a high energy cost to predators. Ants: Some ants have adapted to using autothysis as an altruistic defensive trait to better fight against arthropods and to possibly deter vertebrate predators for the benefit of the colony as a whole. These ants use autothysis as a self-destructive defense to protect their territory, but they use it differently from termites, in that their primary uses for autothysis do not include blocking the tunnels of their territory from attackers, but more so for combat purposes during territorial battles. Early ants used mechanical means of stinging to defend themselves, but the stings showed to be more useful against large vertebrate predators and not as successful against other arthropods. So selection for autothysis in ants evolved as a way to more effectively kill arthropod enemies. The products of autothysis in ants are sticky and corrosive substances, released by the ants' contraction of their gasters, leading to a burst at an intersegmental fold, as well as the mandibular glands. The ants use this self-sacrifice to kill one or more enemies which entangle themselves in this sticky substance. The worker ant has been observed to wrap itself around an opponent, placing its dorsal gaster onto the opponent's head before expelling sticky corrosive material from its mouth and gaster, permanently sticking to the opponent while killing itself and the enemy, as well as any other enemies that become stuck to the products. These ants mostly use autothysis against other arthropods, like invading ant colonies or against termite colonies, and are rather ineffective towards larger vertebrate predators such as lizards or birds. This self-sacrifice is most useful against arthropods because the sticky adhesives in the products work best against the bodies of other arthropods. The compounds used in autothysis, however, have also been explained to have some use in deterring vertebrate predators from eating the ants, because these products are inedible.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autothysis

You are NOT a scientist.


Who am I?

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[This message has been edited by rinselberg (edited 04-23-2020).]

Get away from my colony entrance or I'll blow myself up! I'll do it dammit..don't make me..I mean it!

I don't care how obnoxious a certain forum member gets, I am not using Autothysis as a form of defense.

quote Originally posted by Boondawg: "Autothysis, or suicidal altruism is the process where an animal destroys itself via an internal rupturing or explosion of an organ which ruptures the skin."

I am convinced that this is what my air conditioning unit did on my rental home. The tenant spent the past 6 months telling me I should get a newer / larger air conditioning unit so that it cools off quicker, then one day... the unit apparently blew itself apart... strange and odd... I heard it was called HVACthysis.

quote Originally posted by rinselberg: You are NOT a scientist. Who am I?

I'm going to say it's Halloween, and she's playing the demonic nun from The Conjuring...