Page 90 - The Miracle of Termites

Harun Yahya

do when they ventilate the hive by fanning with their wings. The ven-
tilation system of the nest is completely automatic. Air in the fungus
chambers is heated by the fermentation process taking place there.
Like any tightly packed group of breathing animals, the termites
themselves cause a rise in temperature. This continuous stream of hot

air rises within the main tower by pressure and is forced into the ducts
system of the ridges. The exterior and interior walls of these ridges are
so porous that they enable an exchange of gasses to take place. Carbon
dioxide escapes, and oxygen penetrates from outside. These ridges
with their system of ducts might be called the lungs of the colony. The
air is cooled during its passage through the ridges; this cooler, regen-

erated air now flows into the air hole resembling a cellar by way of the
lower system of wide ducts. From there, it returns to the nest and re-
places the rising warm air. 38
This fresh air is rich in oxygen, rushing into the nest at the rate of
12 cm (4.72 inches) a minute and keeping the temperature at a stable
30∞C (86 F). 39

Because of this perfectly functioning system, the annual tempera-
ture in the nest varies by less than half a degree. It takes each day 1,500
liters of air to supply a medium-sized termite nest. If this oxygen was
delivered by the entry of air directly into the nest, the temperature and
humidity would be too high for the termites to survive.
For this reason, termites do not use that kind of simple ventila-
tion; instead, they have put much more complex systems in place. As

we see, in order for termites to carry out their choice, they would need
at least a very good engineer, a good designer and many individuals
with experience in many branches of knowledge. Consider that to in-
stall such an air conditioning system, termites would have to have ex-
pertise in meteorology, geology, art, and interior design, among other

branches of knowledge.

88 THE MIRACLE OF TERMITES