Behavior

Termites live in large nests known as the "castle" or termitarium. These are large red-brown structures sticking up out of the earth. They may be 9m (30ft) in height and 3m (10ft) across. Along with the above ground structure they extend far underground.

African termites build their nest from clay which is moistened with their saliva. Large amounts of building occur at the start of the wet season. It takes several years after the colony is established for their nest to rise above the ground.

The group form tunnels and openings throughout this structure which channel air through the termite mound and act as an air-conditioning system.

They live in a structured colony headed by the queen and king who mate and produce all of the workers and soldiers. Workers take care of larva, maintain the nest and gather food while soldiers defend the nest.

Each colony may include up to a million termites.

Predators and Threats

Natural predators of the termite include aardvarks, pangolins, frogs and birds. Birds often grab African termites as they complete their mating flights.

In parts of their range the African termite is eaten by humans or by livestock.

These animals will impact humans as their large nests get in the way of agricultural development. At this point they are often blown up causing the destruction of the colony.

Quick facts

Termites are often associated with ants but the two groups are unrelated. Instead the termites are most closely related to cockroaches.

In parts of their range they may be known as the war-like termite.

The Bellicosus portion of their scientific name comes from a Latin word for "combative."

Scientists are yet to determine why the king and queen termite are able to live for so much longer than the workers and soldiers.