This is a termite nest. It's stuck to the side of a tree on the beach, and there were many others like this one around.		These are the tunnels that connect the nest to the ground, and also to the tree tops. Evidently, they don’t connect other parts of the nest – the one huge clump is the whole thing. If a nest looses its access to the ground, it dies, thus why these are so important.		Dr. Dahlem is poking a hole in the nest to demonstrate how fast the termites swarm to the nest’s defense.
		Said swarming. This was about a minute after the hole was poked. All of these are soldiers. Their heads are like giant water hoses, but instead of shooting water they shoot a sticky substance. This substance immobilizes any other bugs that might want a tasty meal. These soldiers are the first to arrive and make sure that the perimeter is clear before the workers emerge to fix the hole. The workers are tiny compared to the soldiers, like specks of dust.
However, the soldiers themselves are tiny.				Look at this comparison!
Termites are amazing creatures. Check out these sites for more information!
Scientific Article		Soldier Pictures		Info
HOMEPAGE	ANTS		CANOEING		TIDE POOLS
Made by Chapen LeGrand