Definition of trophallaxis in English:
trophallaxis
noun ˌtrɒfəˈlaksɪsˌträfəˈlaksis
mass nounEntomology The mutual exchange of regurgitated liquids between adult social insects or between them and their larvae.
Example sentencesExamples
- Second, we quantified the rate of trophallaxis, that is, oral exchange of liquid food between individuals.
- Typical nest behaviors, such as aggression and trophallaxis, were not observed among aggregating wasps.
- Direct interactions are the ‘obvious’ interactions: antennation, trophallaxis (food or liquid exchange), mandibular contact, visual contact, chemical contact (the odor of nearby nestmates), etc.
- Its expression in salivary glands suggests it can be passed among nestmates by trophallaxis or spread on the insect cuticle during grooming.
- The worker was performing trophallaxis with the queen who had her tongue extended through a slit or small hole in the queen cell.
Origin
Early 20th century: from tropho- 'nourishment' + Greek allaxis 'exchange'.