No speci c permits were required for the described eld activities. Speci c permission was also not required to access or sample the termite colonies, as they were collected from unprotected public lands. This study did not involve endangered or protected species. However, in Japan, phenylacetic acid is classi ed as a raw material for stimulant production; we obtained the necessary designation certi cate by the governor of Kyoto Prefecture to allow its purchase from FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Corp., Osaka, Japan.