Page 71 - The Miracle of Termites
P. 71

Exactly in the center there are small air spaces between these rooms and the
            strong, thick outer walls. At the base, there is an air space like a cellar. The central
            structure is conical in shape and it supports the whole nest. In addition, the nest
            has perpendicular supports. Another air space rises like a chimney above this cen-
            tral conical structure. From the top to the bottom, the exterior of the nest has cap-
                                   illary channels opening into inner galleries. These nar-
                                     row channels also support the nest. These channels
                                      are too narrow for termites to pass through and
                                       they function as a gas-exchange system.
                                        At the same time, these channels are protected by
                                        delicate roofs that prevent rain from entering the
                                         nest. These channels form a narrowing branch
                                         that extends from the upper air space to the low-
                                          er one, where they separate into smaller chan-
                                           nels. Later they join together again to form a
                                            larger channel and open a way to the air cel-
                                             lar where they first started. (Gorsel Bilim ve
                                              Teknik Ansiklopedisi (Visual Science and
                                               Technology Encyclopedia), Vol. 3, p. 955.)

                                                    Cross-section of a nest of the
                                                    Macrotermes bellicosus species of
                                                    termite. One million termites live to-
                                                    gether in this nest.
                                                    1. The underground nest is built on a
                                                    support column.
                                                    2. On top of this is a spiral founda-
                                                    tion block.
                                                    3. Above this are the areas where the
                                                    larvae are kept.
                                                    4. Fungus gardens
                                                    5. Food storage areas
                                                    6. The queen's chamber
                                                    7. The central chimney
                                                                 8. Lateral chimneys:
                                                                 temperature-control
                                                                 and air-exchange sys-
                                                                 tems
                                                                 9. Underground tun-
                                                                 nels. To maintain hu-
                                                                 midity, the termites
                                                                 bring food and build-
                                                                 ing materials into the
                                                                 nest through these
                                                                 tunnels.
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