This column can be found here:
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbugsuicide.html
The answer that was given is no. I think I found an exception, well almost. Apparently crickets can become infected with a parasite that brainwashes them and makes them commit suicide. Not technically within the constraints of this question but gosh darn if it’s not interesting. Check out this vid explaining the whole thing:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5220551385066049121&hl=en
Wow, that’s fascinating, yet disturbing. Postulate that the parasite could be passed to humans with similar effect, and you have the makings of a Dean Koontz book. Do a really good job with it, and you have a Stephen King book. 
Lemmings!!!
d&r
falls off cliff.
Can beaching whales be considered suicide?
No one fully understands the causes of beaching. Some evidence points to sometimes it being possibly psychologically related (loss of family and such), but sometimes evidence points to problems with the sense of navigation and other factors.
Right, but it is reasonably possible that some whale beachings are suicide. The thing is, in order for there to be “suicide” by Doug’s definition, we pretty well have to have a self-aware creature who understands death.
Thus, only Whales (and their cousins), and the Apes could qualfiy anyway. And even that’s arguable.
Thus, really by the definition used- only humans *can *commit suicide.
Scientific tests prove it: Any mammal will commit suicide if subjected to Carrot Top.
Not just mammals: all my parakeets fell from their perches, stone dead and stiff, about 45 minutes into his movie.
Nah, they prefer kippin’ on their backs. Beautiful plumage, innit?
Maybe he’s pining for the fjords?
:smack: Shoulda picked some other species than the humble budgie. 
What about an albatross?
WRONG!!! 
Lemmings do not jump off cliffs–it’s an old wives tale.
Sound of lemming in mid-plummet.
WHOOOOOSH
Isn’t it more of a recent Disney tale than an old wives tale?
What flavour is it?
No, that’s based on a misunderstanding. It is true that the Disney film faked the scene in “White Wilderness”, but they were faking what they thought was true. (Indeed, I’m old enough to personally testify that the lemmings myth existed before the film came out.)
Really? Thanks for that interesting information. I thought the myth derived from the movie.
And it’s not entirely false. Lemmings do make a mad dash like that, and some do fall.
It’s just that it’s hwaaaaay over done in the myth and the movie.
Female octopuses (all species with which I’m familiar) will starve themselves after laying eggs. Nominally this is due to their protection of the hatch (she protects them from predators and regulates the oxygen content of the water to the eggs) but she won’t eat even if food is provided to her, and dies around the time the eggs hatch. Males of most species tend to die after reproduction as well, and nobody is really sure why. It’s obviously a biological imperative rather than a conscious decision (although octopuses are very smart and arguably have at least a limited self-awareness). I can’t think of another example offhand (excepting the altrustic behavior of certain social insects which can be quantified in terms of gene propogation) but I’m sure *Colibri or Darwin’s Finch can come up with other examples.
Stranger