Fig. 1

The workers of Reticulitermes labralis created new nests (colonies) in the field and laboratory. a In the field, the workers created a new colony in new food site (dead wood). The workers exploited new food resources outside the natal nest and moved to a new nest site. The differentiation of female workers into NRs was triggered in the new nest site. b In the laboratory, A group of workers from their natal colony was isolated in a Petri dish with moist sawdust. After 4 weeks, the NRs appeared in the group of isolated workers, indicating that a new colony was created. W (blue), workers; PR (red), primary reproductives; NR (yellow), female neotenic reproductives