What Does the Inside of a Termite Mound Look Like?

Intricate mud mounds constructed by termites species in Africa, Asia and Australia can be so large and plentiful that they assume architectural importance in the natural landscape. But the inside of a termite mound is even more impressive, not because of what it looks like, but for its engineering.

Significance

The mounds of each termite species differ in external shape. Some look like piles of dry mud while others resemble complicated sand castles. But underneath the surface they all share some common features the ensure the survival of the termite colony. The arrangement of these features varies slightly according to species, but the basic function does not.

Features

At the core of the termite mound are the nursery galleries which house millions of termite larvae. Nestled underneath the nursery galleries is the royal chamber where the queen and king reside. Below the royal chambers are chambers where food is stored and worker termites care for immature termites, or nymphs. All the chambers are dome shaped with flat floors.

Considerations

Some species of termites cultivate fungi as their primary source of food. The fungi are grown in chambers that are filled with comb structures made of termite droppings which also provide nourishment for the fungi. The fungi chambers are located toward toward the center of the mound, usually above and around the nursery gallery.

Function

Throughout the mound and interconnecting the chambers is a complex network of hundreds of tunnels, or vents. On the outside of the termite mound, at the base, are several openings that lead into the vents. As one might expect, these vents serve as a route for termites to enter and exit the mound. But the termite colony depends entirely on the vents' other function---they are a very efficient climate control system that regulates temperatures within the mound.

Effects

Air flows through the vents according to the principles of convection. Cooler air is drawn into the vents at the bottom of the termite mound. It follows the direction of the vent downward beneath the nursery galleries and royal chamber. As the air travels it absorbs heat from the termite mound and rises. It rises up through vents which run vertically through the termite mound like chimneys, finally exiting through the peak of the mound.

Benefits

Termites continuously rearrange the vents in their mound. The digging of new vents and blocking off of old vents maintains favorable temperatures within the entire mound. Temperatures vary from one part of the mound to another, with the nursery chamber being warmer than other parts of the mound, but temperatures within each part of the mound remain constant. Some species of termites cannot survive long exposure to the climate outside the mound. So maintaining a constant temperatures within the mound is essential to their survival.

Resources

• Termite Towers
• What Do Termite Mounds Look Like