in vast subterranean colonies that are not in any way
obvious from aboveground.
Termites are generally well protected within their
colonies but are preyed upon by anteaters. Emerging
termites (which are flying to initiate new colonies) are
fed upon by numerous bird species.
Among the most abundant of the termites are the
many species of Nasutitermes (family Termitidae,
subfamily Nasutitermitinae), which range throughout
the tropical world and are particularly diverse and
abundant in the Neotropics. The life history of
Nasutitermes is typical of many termite species. There
are four castes: worker, soldier, king, and queen. If
you wish to see workers and soldiers, locate a nest
(usually on a tree) and make a small cut into it. Nests
are a paperlike material, carton, made from a glue-
like combination of digested wood and termite fecal
matter. When a nest is breached, scores of workers
and soldiers swarm out in reaction to the disturbance.
Workers are pale whitish with dark mahogany-
colored heads. Soldiers are similarly colored but are
larger than workers and have prominent heads and
long snouts. Soldiers eject a sticky substance with the
odor of turpentine that apparently irritates would- be
predators, including anteaters of the genus Tamandua
(chapter 16). Termites quickly repair an injured nest.
They swarm about the surface, laying down new
material to repair the damaged area.Plate 6- 16. Basketball- size termite mounds such as this are a
common sight throughout much of the Neotropics. Photo by
John Kricher.
Plate 6- 17. This termite nest has been cut open and is
swarming with worker termites repairing the damaged nest.
Photo by John Kricher.92 chapter 6 essential dirt: soils and cycling