noun
- the exchange of food or other substances between members of a social insect colony, especially through regurgitation
Usage: biology; entomology
Examples
- Worker ants engage in trophallaxis to share nutrients throughout the colony.
- The process of trophallaxis helps distribute food from foraging bees to nurse bees.
- Scientists observed trophallaxis behavior in the termite nest during feeding time.
- Through trophallaxis, social insects can rapidly communicate information about food sources.
- The queen bee receives nourishment from workers through trophallaxis.
- Researchers study trophallaxis to understand how insect colonies maintain social cohesion.