Soldier presence suppresses presoldier differentiation through a rapid decrease of JH in the termite Reticulitermes speratus

► Worker JH titers in the presence or absence of soldiers were quantified by LC-MS. ► The former were lower than the latter at five days after JH application to workers. ► A 4 day period of co-existence with soldiers suppressed presoldier induction. ► Soldiers rapidly decrease JH titers of workers, and inhibit new soldier production.