Soldier formation regulated by a primer pheromone from the soldier frontal gland in a higher termite, Nasutitermes lujae.

In the nasute higher termite Nasutitermes lujae, the differentiation of new soldiers is suppressed or delayed by the soldiers themselves. Experimental data strongly suggest that this inhibitory effect results from the action of a primer pheromone secreted by the frontal gland of soldiers. The pheromone must be contacted directly.