A termite mound is the home of termites. This group of termites lives in Africa, while others live in Australia and South America.

Termites are like ants. They live in colonies and build the mounds above an underground nest.

Termites dig into the earth to look for water. As the dig down, they bring the dirt to the surface, and the mound grows as the termites dig further into the soil.

Termite Mound

The structure of the mounds can be very complicated. Inside the mound is a system of tunnels and a ventilation system of air shafts. The nest itself consists of chambers. The temperature of the inside of the mounds is regulated by the air shafts.

African termite mounds, found in dry savannas, can be very high or very wide, depending on the species of termite.

In the mounds, female termites lay their eggs. A queen termite can lay 25 million eggs in her lifetime.

Termite Mound

Termite Mound

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM