physogastry

biology

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July 1, 2026

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Physogastry refers to a biological condition where an insect's abdomen is greatly distended. This term is used to describe insects, such as some termitophiles (insects that live with termites), that exhibit this characteristic. The opposite of physogastry is stenogastry. The adjective form of this condition is physogastric.12

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termite
Swarming
…abdomen enlarges (a process called physogastry). Physogastric queens in more advanced termite families (e.g., Termitidae, especially Macrotermes and Odontotermes) may become 11 cm (4.3 inches) long. The queen becomes an “egg-laying machine” and may produce as many as 36,000 eggs a day for many years. The king is 1 to…
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…abdomen enlarges (a process called physogastry). Physogastric queens in more advanced termite families (e.g., Termitidae, especially Macrotermes and Odontotermes) may become 11 cm (4.3 inches) long. The queen becomes an “egg-laying machine” and may produce as many as 36,000 eggs a day for many years. The king is 1 to…
Read More