Termite Towers: Tiny Insects, Giant Homes

Termite Towers

1Imagine a tower of hard dirt that is taller than a grown-up. It rises out of a hot, grassy field. No person built it. It was made by a huge family of tiny insects called termites.

2Termites look a little like ants, but they are a different kind of insect. They live together in big groups called colonies. A colony has a queen, and her main job is to lay eggs. Most of the termites in a colony are workers. Workers find food, care for the young, and build the nest. Other termites are soldiers. Soldiers guard the colony from enemies such as ants. Many soldiers have large heads and strong jaws for fighting.

3Not all termites build towers, but some kinds that live in Africa and Australia do. To build, workers mix bits of soil with their spit. They shape the wet mud into tiny balls and press each ball into place. When the mud dries, it turns very hard. Over many years, one tower can grow taller and taller.

4Inside, a tower is full of tunnels. In many towers, the termites live in a nest near the bottom, not up at the top. Scientists have learned that the tunnels help air move through the nest. They let stale air out and fresh air in.

5Termites also help the land around them. Many kinds eat dead wood, dry grass, and fallen leaves. As they eat, they break these things into tiny bits that become part of the soil. Rich soil helps new plants grow. In this way, termites help turn dead plants into rich soil.