African Termite Mound Facts

Most of the mounds are in well drained areas.

African termite mound facts. Rising heat as air inside the mound warms it rises up and exits through the central chimney within the tower. Heating cooling homes and fortresses first let s address the structure of these things. In tropical areas such as parts of africa these mounds can become very large. They feed on dead and decaying plant material such as leaf litter soil and wood.

In comparison man would have to erect a building 2 743 feet high. Termite mounds found in africa can rise to heights of over thirty feet. Some measure over 30 feet high. Fresh air a termite mound is porous which enables cool air to enter and circulate the structure.

Mound building termites live in africa australia and south america and the mounds they create are. Mound building termites are a group of termite species that live in mounds. Each year termites inflict more than 5 billion dollars worth of property damage. From the african termites that build mounds taller than men to the subterranean species that destroy homes these social insectsare fascinating creatures to study.

African termites are the master builders of the insect world. Africa is home to the largest structures ever built relative to the size of the builder. The mounds sometimes have a diameter of 30 metres. Termite mounds usually outlive the colonies themselves.

If the inner tunnels of the nest are exposed it is usually dead. The african mound building termite queen can grow as old as 60 years she s the longest living bug in existence. Learn more about these decomposers. Some species of termite build their colonies upward creating building like dirt mounds.

Termites are good for soil. Turner discovered that in the termite species macrotermes michaelseni found throughout most of southern africa the mounds and nest are two very distinct air spaces. They build large nests housing an entire colony of up to several million individuals. The large termite mounds termitaria are created by fungus growing termites macrotermes natalensis.

Soldier termites are larger than workers growing up to in 18 mm long. A colony of termites will include different castes all with specific roles. The nest is actually. The mound is an elaborate air conditioning system that keeps the nest at a constant temperature and circulates fresh air throughout.

Sometimes other colonies of the same or different species occupy a mound after the original builders deaths. The queen produces an egg every three seconds for 15 years and as time goes on her body distends. The current tallest building is being built in dubai and will rise to a mere 1 922 feet. However it s more common for a queen to live 15 20 years.