Colobopsis explodens

Colobopsis explodens
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Genus: Colobopsis
Species:
C. explodens
Binomial name
Colobopsis explodens
Laciny & Zettel 2018

Colobopsis explodens is a species of ant which is found in Southeast Asia. Like some other species in its genus, it is noted for a rare combat mechanism of workers exploding in self-defense, smothering the enemy with a toxic and often deadly secretion. This suicidal defensive adaptation also occurs among some species of termites: it is termed autothysis, and as ants and termites are members of different insect orders, it is an example of convergent evolution.