What a load of rubbish! Termites digging down to 200 feet!!
You might want to check out all the research done by the CSIRO on the
Granitguard system. They showed that there was basically no termite
activity at 900mm (yes mm) below the soil surface and that little termite
activity occurs below 600mm.
Furthermore, there is no soil at 200 feet down and termites certainly do
not forage for their cellulose-enriched food source in solid (or even
decomposed) rock.
African Termite Mounds
Summary: Africa is home to the largest structures ever built relative to the size of the builder. Termite mounds found in Africa can rise to heights of over thirty feet. In comparison, man would have to erect a building 2,743 feet high. The current tallest building is being built in Dubai and will rise to a mere 1,922 feet.
Termites play a crucial role in the ecosystem of Africa. They are great decomposers of wood and plant debris, they aerate the soil of the savannah and add nutrients to it, and they are a food source for many animals, including man. They are also in the diet of native Africans and are considered a delicacy.
Termite mounds have been an inspiration for humans who want to mimic the fantastic ventilation system used in the termite structures. Hot air rises through tubes in the above ground mounds while winds from outside send air currents down into the subterranean chambers so temperature is regulated no matter the weather outside. This efficiency might be able to be put to use
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in the homes of people.
Termite mounds have been studied for use in road construction in Africa. The secretion used by termites to make the soil of their mounds hard is so effective that roads are being built using these same chemicals. The roads are cheaper and more durable than asphalt roads.
Termites dig deep into the earth in search of water. They can go down farther than two hundred feet, and all that soil is brought up to ground level and added to the structure of the mound. For this reason, ore is mixed into the termite mound. The soil of the mound can be inspected by geologists to see what lies deeper in the earth. Gold prospectors are known to inspect termite mounds. In fact, the largest diamond mine in the world, in Botswana, was discovered by examining a termite mound.
Scientists estimate the egg production of some termite species found in African to be as high as 50,000 eggs a day! This amounts to 25 million eggs over the course of the termite queen's lifetime. No wonder those mounds get so big, huh!
Comments
Dr Hans
11 Nov 2008, 18:41
11 Nov 2008, 18:41
Ask the Exterminator
11 Nov 2008, 23:12
11 Nov 2008, 23:12
For visitors to my site, Granitgard, often misspelled "Granitguard", is an
aggregate barrier not commercially available in the United States, outside
of Hawaii.
Further, depending upon the species, termites do, in fact, dig deeper than 900mm. A majority of the fifty common species found in the US build nests as deep as 20 feet. That's over 6,000mm (yes mm).
As for the African variety, Macrotermes bellicosus, I must admit that 200 feet sounds deep, and perhaps it was an anomaly. Maybe the termites found an earth-filled 200 foot deep cravas. The source of that information was the Science Editor for Softpedia.com.
Further, depending upon the species, termites do, in fact, dig deeper than 900mm. A majority of the fifty common species found in the US build nests as deep as 20 feet. That's over 6,000mm (yes mm).
As for the African variety, Macrotermes bellicosus, I must admit that 200 feet sounds deep, and perhaps it was an anomaly. Maybe the termites found an earth-filled 200 foot deep cravas. The source of that information was the Science Editor for Softpedia.com.
Anthony j. Chegere
07 May 2009, 06:10
07 May 2009, 06:10
I request to know more about insects espercialy temite how the reproduse
acording to their work spercialisation
Ask the Exterminator
07 May 2009, 08:50
07 May 2009, 08:50
Check out http://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/termite2.htm
Fred Bell
22 Jun 2009, 13:38
22 Jun 2009, 13:38
Hi,
I am very interested to know how termite mounds can be used to reveal gold or diamond deposits. Surely you would need to destroy the entire mound to get a representative sample or an adequate idea of what is beneath the mound? You said the largest diamond mine in Botswana was discovered through a termite mound - but could termite mounds be enough themselves to indicate ore bodies underground?
Thanks
I am very interested to know how termite mounds can be used to reveal gold or diamond deposits. Surely you would need to destroy the entire mound to get a representative sample or an adequate idea of what is beneath the mound? You said the largest diamond mine in Botswana was discovered through a termite mound - but could termite mounds be enough themselves to indicate ore bodies underground?
Thanks