Animalscaretips
Mound-building termites are a group of termite species that live in mounds. These termites live in Africa, Australia and South America. The mounds sometimes have a diameter of 30 metres (98 ft). Most of the mounds are in well-drained areas.
- How many species of termites are there in Africa?
- What is a African termite?
- Where are termite mounds found in Africa?
- How big is an African termite?
- How long does the African termite queen live?
- Where do termites live in Africa?
- Are African termites a keystone species?
- What are African termite mounds made from?
- What is the biggest termite mound?
- How big is a termite mound?
- What eats termites in Africa?
- Is a termite mound biotic or abiotic?
- Why do Africans eat termites?
- How strong is a termite mound?
- How big does a queen termite get?
How many species of termites are there in Africa?
The number of termite species in the world is more than 2500, and Africa with more than 1000 species has the richest intercontinental diversity. The family Termitidae contains builders of great mounds up to 5 m high. Colonies are composed of casts: a queen, a king, soldiers and workers.
What is a African termite?
The African termite is best known for the large mounds which colonies form to live within. This is built out of clay and sand with a total height of up to 3m (10ft). These animals participate in a basic form of agriculture where they grow fungus on wood which they can then feed on.
Where are termite mounds found in Africa?
Termites shape and are shaped by their mounds. Researchers investigate how termites can build complex, long-standing, meter-sized structures all over the world. This termite mound is located in Namibia.
How big is an African termite?
Given the sheer number of species there is a size range. A full grown termite will usually measure between 4 and 15 millimetres. However, the queen can be much bigger, measuring up to 10cm.
How long does the African termite queen live?
Long live the queen
For some African species of termites, a queen's life span may be up to 50 years, while in other species, such as drywood termites, the queens live only 10 to 12 years. In general, worker termites live about two years.
Where do termites live in Africa?
In the parched grasslands and savannas, or drylands, of Africa, South America and Asia, termite mounds store nutrients and moisture and via internal tunnels, allow water to better penetrate the soil.
Are African termites a keystone species?
Because the termites create habitat required for other organisms, they are known as “keystone species.”
What are African termite mounds made from?
The mound is constructed out of a mixture of soil, termite saliva and dung. Although the mound appears solid, the structure is incredibly porous. Its walls are filled with tiny holes that allow outside air to enter and permeate the entire structure.
What is the biggest termite mound?
The tallest termite mound recorded was a 12.8 m (42 ft) high mound found in the Republic of Congo.
How big is a termite mound?
The termites' activities over thousands of years has resulted in huge quantities of soil deposited in approximately 200 million cone-shaped mounds, each about 8 feet (2.5 meters) tall and 30 feet (9 meters) across.
What eats termites in Africa?
Underground creatures such as moles and shrews will eat termites if they happen upon them. Echinidnas, aardvarks and anteaters actively search for termites to eat, and primates have been seen using tools to extract termites. In certain areas of Africa, termites are a popular human food source.
Is a termite mound biotic or abiotic?
The physical attributes (abiotic drivers) of termite mounds (size and relative distance to other mounds) are the strongest predictors of termite species richness and composition. The biotic driver (presence of a builder colony) has an important, though smaller, negative effect on within-mound termite species richness.
Why do Africans eat termites?
The alates are particularly popular in many Sub-Saharan Africa countries and are collected in their thousands for consumption. Research has established that termites are packed with proteins and fats which aid in improving the diets of people in malnutrition-prone areas.
How strong is a termite mound?
But in groups of a million or two, termites are formidable architects, building mounds that can reach 17 feet (5 meters) and higher. The 33 pounds (15 kilograms) or so of termites in a typical mound will, in an average year, move a fourth of a metric ton (about 550 pounds) of soil and several tons of water.
How big does a queen termite get?
The Appearance Of Termite Queen
Her length is about 10 cm. She possesses a big white abdomen. To an extent, the abdomen is a hundred times bigger than a typical termite, but the head and leg remain the same size.
