CSIRO ScienceImage 2043 Nasutitermes triodiae termites

Nasutitermes ''Nasutitermes'' is a genus of termite Termites are a group of detritivore, detritophagous Eusociality, eusocial cockroaches which consume a variety of Detritus, decaying plant material, generally in the form of wood, Plant litter, leaf li ...

triodiae'', also known as the cathedral

termite Termites are a group of detritivore, detritophagous Eusociality, eusocial cockroaches which consume a variety of Detritus, decaying plant material, generally in the form of wood, Plant litter, leaf litter, and Humus, soil humus. They are dist ...

, is a grass-eating species of

Nasutitermitinae The Nasutitermitinae is a near Cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan subfamily of Termitidae, higher termites represented by 81 genera and 605 species. The highly derived soldier caste exhibits vestigial mandibles and a protruding Fontanellar ...

termite that can be found in

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regi ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

. It is also sometimes referred to as the spinifex termite, since it is found in the spinifex (also known as ''Triodia'') grasslands. Very little research has been done on the underground nature of this species.

Description and behaviour

Mounds

''Nasutitermes triodiae'' mostly live in

. They are known for their skill at building "cathedrals". Mounds of the cathedral termites on the dry plains of the Northwest Territory dominate the landscape and often tower more than 15 feet in height. Constructed from mud, plant parts, and termite saliva and

feces Feces (also known as faeces American and British English spelling differences#ae and oe, or fæces; : faex) are the solid or semi-solid remains of food that was not digested in the small intestine, and has been broken down by bacteria in the ...

, the columns of the mound are extraordinarily tough and able to withstand the rigors of wind, rain, heat, and hungry predators. Construction of the hollow columns allows for internal circulation of air from the cooler soil at the base of the mound to the warmer top. This clever ventilation provides a central air-conditioning system that enables the colony to remain relatively cool even when the external temperatures are very hot.

Defense mechanisms

When there is a breach in the nest, nasute soldiers pour out to defend the colony. Termite soldier

castes A caste is a fixed social group into which an individual is born within a particular system of social stratification: a caste system. Within such a system, individuals are expected to marry exclusively within the same caste (endogamy), foll ...

can be distinguished by their dark brown head and elongated, tubular snout called a nasus. The termites create and store a mixture of

monoterpene Monoterpenes are a class of terpenes that consist of two isoprene units and have the molecular formula C10H16. Monoterpenes may be linear (acyclic) or contain rings (monocyclic and bicyclic). Modified terpenes, such as those containing oxygen func ...

sesquiterpene Sesquiterpenes are a class of terpenes that consist of three isoprene units and often have the molecular formula C15H24. Like monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes may be cyclic or contain rings, including many combinations. Biochemical modifications s ...

s and

diterpene Diterpenes are a class of terpenes composed of four isoprene units, often with the molecular formula C20H32. They are biosynthesized by plants, animals and fungi via the HMG-CoA reductase pathway, with geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate being a primary ...

s which can then be ejected from their long, horn-like nasus. The secretions are able to entangle, irritate and repel invaders. If a human were to stick their finger in the mound, it would be covered in the defensive fluid.

Diet

''Nasutitermes triodiae'' often feed on ''Triodia'', which are common in the grasslands where they can be found. It doesn't matter if the plant material is living or dead. To avoid the heat and sunlight, the termites create tube-like structures of mud toward their food source. These tubes are then built around the grass, where the spinifex is then consumed. The hollow tubes left behind are used to reach the other blades of grass.

References

Insects of Australia triodiae {{Termite-stub