trophallaxis

American  

[trof-uh-lak-sis, troh-fuh-] / ˌtrɒf əˈlæk sɪs, ˌtroʊ fə- /

noun

trophallaxes plural

1. (among social insects) the exchange of nutriments or other secretions between members of a colony.

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trophallaxis British  

/ ˌtrɒfəˈlæksɪs /

noun

1. the exchange of regurgitated food that occurs between adults and larvae in colonies of social insects

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• trophallactic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• trophallaxes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of trophallaxis

1915–20; troph- + Greek állaxis exchange, equivalent to allak- (verbid stem of allássein to change; see allo-) + -sis -sis

Example Sentences

Worker termites feed other castes digested food in a process called trophallaxis.

From Science Magazine • Sep. 6, 2023

Social insects—like ants, bees, and wasps—have long been known to pass food to one another through mouth-to-mouth exchange, a behavior known as trophallaxis.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 29, 2016

Other research has suggested that ants also use trophallaxis to spread the colony’s odor, helping them identify their own nest mates.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 29, 2016