Cathedral Termite Mounds, Darwin_0439
Across the ‘Top End’ of Australia from Litchfield to Kakadu and beyond, these astonishing structures can be found populating open grasslands. Known as Cathedral Termite mounds, it’s not unusual for them to reach heights of five metres, with some measuring up to eight metres. Amazingly they are built by insects known as Nasutitermes triodiae or ‘Cathedral Termites’ that are only about 5mm long. Millions of these insects can thrive in a single mound.
Constructed from mud, plant parts, and termite saliva and faeces, the mounds are extraordinarily tough and able to withstand the onslaught of wind, heat and monsoonal rains. Typically a mound will remain standing for 50 to 100 years—the duration of the queen termite’s life.
Inside they have a system of hollow columns that facilitate the circulation of air and help maintain even temperature and humidity levels—and possibly assist in the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen.
These particular mounds were photographed in the late afternoon four or five kilometres east of Berry Springs on the Cox Peninsula Road just south of Darwin.
© Irwin Reynolds, all rights reserved. If you are interested in using one of my images or would like a high quality fine art print, please send me an email (irwinreynolds@me.com).
Cathedral Termite Mounds, Darwin_0439
Across the ‘Top End’ of Australia from Litchfield to Kakadu and beyond, these astonishing structures can be found populating open grasslands. Known as Cathedral Termite mounds, it’s not unusual for them to reach heights of five metres, with some measuring up to eight metres. Amazingly they are built by insects known as Nasutitermes triodiae or ‘Cathedral Termites’ that are only about 5mm long. Millions of these insects can thrive in a single mound.
Constructed from mud, plant parts, and termite saliva and faeces, the mounds are extraordinarily tough and able to withstand the onslaught of wind, heat and monsoonal rains. Typically a mound will remain standing for 50 to 100 years—the duration of the queen termite’s life.
Inside they have a system of hollow columns that facilitate the circulation of air and help maintain even temperature and humidity levels—and possibly assist in the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen.
These particular mounds were photographed in the late afternoon four or five kilometres east of Berry Springs on the Cox Peninsula Road just south of Darwin.
© Irwin Reynolds, all rights reserved. If you are interested in using one of my images or would like a high quality fine art print, please send me an email (irwinreynolds@me.com).