Page 71 - The Miracle of Termites

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.