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Termite (African Mound-building)

Macrotermes michaelseni

Range

They are found in Africa.

Habitat

They live in the rain forest and on the grasslands (savanna).

Body Traits

They are social insects living in a colony with many forms of termites doing different jobs. The workers are blind and have no wings. They feed and take care of the other termites, dig tunnels, find food and water, keep house taking care of the nest. The soldiers keep the colony safe from predators. The king’s only job it to fertilize the eggs. The queen lays the eggs and is much bigger than the other termites.

Habits

The termites build huge nests that grow over time to giant mounds, some more than 10 feet tall.

Diet

They eat wood, bark, straw and anything cellulose. They have bacteria in their stomachs that help them digest the tough cellulose in their food.

Reproduction

The queen becomes swollen with eggs.

Classification

Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Isoptera
Family: Termitidae
Genus: Macrotermes
Species: M. michaelseni

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