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Termites are a group of detritophagous eusocial insects which consume a variety of decaying plant material, generally in the form of wood, leaf litter, and soil humus.They are distinguished by their moniliform antennae and the soft-bodied and often unpigmented worker caste for which they have been commonly termed "white ants"; however, they are not ants, being more closely related to ...
Trinervitermes trinervoides is a species of termite belonging to family Termitidae. It is native to and widespread in southern Africa where it inhabits mesic to semi-arid grasslands. Due to the snout on the head of soldiers, and their grass collecting habits, they are known as snouted harvester termites.
Termitidae is the largest family of termites consisting of 2,105 described species of which are commonly known as the higher termites. [1] They are evolutionarily the most specialised termite group, with their highly compartmentalized hindgut lacking the flagellated protozoans common to "lower termites", which are instead replaced by bacteria and archaea.
The termite mound is able to regulate temperature, humidity and respiratory gas distribution. An early proposition suggested a thermosiphon mechanism. [ 2 ] The heat created due to the metabolism of termites imparts sufficient buoyancy to the nest air to push it up into the mound and eventually to the mound’s porous surface where heat and ...
Amitermes meridionalis, commonly known as the magnetic termite or compass termite, is a species of eusocial insect in the family Termitidae. It is endemic to northern Australia and the common names derive from the fact that the wedge-shaped mound is aligned with its main axis running north and south.
Microhodotermes viator, commonly called the southern harvester termite, [2] the Karoo harvesting termite, [3] the wood-eating harvester termite, [4] houtkapper (lit. ' wood cutter '), and stokkiesdraer (lit. ' stick carrier '), [5] is a species of harvester termite native to the desert shrubland of Namibia and South Africa.
Amitermes hastatus (black mound termites) from the Western Cape region of South Africa repairing a section of their distinctive black mounds. Most of the termites are soldiers. Amitermes is a genus of termites in the family Termitidae. Species are found in a range of habitats including deserts and rainforests.
The colony of termites below may be killed, but there is a tendency for new colonies to become established at the same location. The mounds are a favourable habitat for herbs and woody plants to grow, with their associated invertebrates and other animals, and biodiversity increases. [3]