Insect-O-Fact #14

Termite Mounds

The termites are an incredibly diverse species, their mounds alone are testament to that fact. Certain mound-building termites, particularly those in the subfamily Macrotermitinae, have workers who are specialized in cultivating subterranean fungus gardens. The typical mound has multiple chimneys and tubes that allow air to circulate through the structure to the inner layers of the mound contain these gardens as well as galleries in which the termites live and raise young. The king and queen usually live deep inside the mound, where they are well protected from predators and the elements. The termite has shown notable sensitivity to light, and certain families of the insect build covered ‘walkways’ to use when they must emerge from their subterranean dwellings.