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To termites, any breach of their tunnels or nests is a cause for alarm. When termites discover a potential violation, the soldiers usually bang their heads, apparently to entice other troops for defence and also to recruit additional workers to fix any breach.56 Additionally, an alarmed termite bumps into other termites which induces them to be alarmed and to leave pheromone trails to the distressed area, which is also a means to recruit additional workers.56.

The pantropical subfamily Nasutitermitinae has a specialised caste of soldiers, also known as nasutes, that have the ability to exude noxious liquids through a horn-like frontal projection that they use for defence.155 Nasutes have lost their mandibles throughout the course of evolution and must be fed by workers.59 A vast array of monoterpene hydrocarbon solvents have been identified in the fluids that nasutes secrete.156 Similarly, Formosan subterranean termites have been known to secrete naphthalene to safeguard their nests.157.

Soldiers of those species Globitermes sulphureus commit suicide by autothysis  rupturing a large gland just beneath the surface of the cuticles. The thick, yellowish fluid in the gland gets very sticky on contact with the air, entangling ants or other insects which are trying to invade the nest.158159 Another termite, Neocapriterme taracua, also engages in suicidal defence.

When soldiers guarding nest entrances are attacked by intruders, they engage in autothysis, creating a cube that denies entry to any attacker.161.

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Workers use several different strategies to take care of their dead, including burying, cannibalism, and avoiding a corpse altogether.162163164 To avoid pathogens, termites occasionally engage in necrophoresis, in which a nestmate conveys away a corpse in the colony to dispose of it everywhere.165 Which strategy is utilized depends on the nature of this corpse a employee is dealing with (i.e.

A species of fungus is known to mimic termite eggs, successfully avoiding its natural predators. These small brown chunks, known as"termite balls", rarely kill the eggs, and in certain circumstances the workers tend to them.166 This fungus mimics these eggs helpful site by producing a cellulose-digesting enzyme known as glucosidases.167 A unique mimicking behavior exists between various species of Trichopsenius beetles and certain particular species within Reticulitermes.

This chemical mimicry makes it possible for the beetles to integrate themselves within the termite colonies.168 The developed appendages on the physogastric abdomen of Austrospirachtha mimetes allows the beetle to mimic a termite worker.169.

Several species of ant are known to catch termites to use as a brand new food source after on, rather than killing them. For example, Formica nigra captures termites, and people who try to escape are immediately captured and driven underground.170 Certain species of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae conduct these raids although other ant species move in alone to steal the eggs or nymphs.146 Ants such as Megaponera analis assault the outside of mounds and Dorylinae ants assault underground.146171 Despite this, some termites and ants can coexist peacefully.

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54 species of ants are known to inhabit Nasutitermes mounds, both occupied and abandoned ones.174 One reason many ants live in Nasutitermes mounds is a result of the termites' frequent occurrence in their geographic range; another is to shield themselves from floods.174175 Iridomyrmex also inhabits termite mounds but no evidence for any kind of relationship (other than a one) is known.116 In rare situations, certain species of termites live inside active ant colonies.176 Some invertebrate organisms such as beetles, caterpillars, flies and millipedes are termitophiles and reside inside termite colonies (they are unable to survive independently).56 As a consequence, certain beetles and flies have evolved with their hosts.

Mounds may also provide shelter and warmth to birds, lizards, snakes and scorpions.56.

Termites are known to transport pollen and frequently see flowers,177 are considered as potential pollinators for a number of flowering plants.178 One flower in particular, Rhizanthella gardneri, is regularly pollinated by foraging workers, and it is possibly the only Orchidaceae blossom in the world to be pollinated by termites.177

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Many plants have grown effective defences against termites. But, seedlings are vulnerable to termite attacks and need additional protection, as their defence mechanisms only develop when they've passed the seedling stage.179 Defence is typically achieved by secreting antifeedant compounds into the woody cell walls.180 This reduces the ability of termites to efficiently digest the cellulose.

When retained close to the extract, they become disoriented and eventually perish.181.

Termite populations can be substantially impacted by environmental changes including those due to human intervention. A Brazilian study investigated the termite assemblages of 3 sites of Caatinga under different levels of anthropogenic disturbance in the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil were sampled using 65 x 2 m transects.182 A total of 26 species of termites had been present in the three websites, and 196 encounters were listed in the transects.