How Do Termites Build Tall Nests?

Termite nests provide warmth and protection to a colony. They are home to a variety of invertebrates including scorpions and lizards. They can also be occupied by snakes and birds.

To create a nest, termites first grow a single tunnel. Then they connect it to another column. This column grows into a larger structure. The entire nest acts as a giant lung. Fresh air is drawn in and circulated until the termites are inside.

The walls of the mound have a number of small holes that allow outside air to enter. The top of the mound is constructed with a central chimney. These chimneys draw out carbon dioxide through natural airflow.

The mound is also designed to regulate humidity. Workers feed other termites and take care of the colony. They also forage for food. The fungi that grow in a damp nest provide the termites with nutrients.

The colony is made up of one or more royal pairs. Each pair has compound eyes and dark bodies. They spend time outside the colony on mating and colonising flights. If a queen dies, reproductives will replace her. They will then develop into fully-fledged adults.

Termite mounds are built by thousands of workers. Each worker transports materials to the mound. Some termites use feces to fortify their structures.

The colony’s main function is to produce food. The termites have specialized gut organisms that break down woody cellulose into sugars. They also need special fungi to digest timber. These fungi make the wood more nutritious. They also obtain protein by eating fungi.

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