2025.01.13 – The Urge to Explore: A Termite's Secret Weapon– Issue #115

Hello Explorer,
Humans are driven by an innate curiosity to explore. We delve into the depths of the oceans, venture into untouched jungles, traverse vast deserts, and even explore the emptiness of space and the Earth's interior through deep mining. We are always seeking something, always exploring somewhere.
This exploratory drive is not unique to humans. In the animal kingdom, exploration is equally prevalent, though often with a more focused goal: food. Ants, for instance, scurry around individually or in small groups to locate food sources, then recruit thousands of colony members to assist in bringing the bounty back to the nest. Guineafowl meticulously scratch through leaf litter in search of insects and seeds to eat. Wandering spiders, those not bound to webs, tirelessly roam in pursuit of prey. This list could go on and on.
In many cases, these explorations leave no discernible trace. However, under the right conditions, evidence of insect exploration can become apparent.
Driven by hunger, termites relentlessly search for food sources. Wood-eating species exhibit remarkable ingenuity in locating dead branches. These industrious insects meticulously chew the wood into fragments, transporting them back to their intricate nests to nourish a symbiotic colony of fungi.
Termites are highly susceptible to desiccation (death by drying out), thus they heavily rely on humid microclimates for survival. Exploration poses a significant challenge in this regard, much like deep-sea exploration and our own inability to breathe underwater. However, termites have ingeniously overcome this obstacle through the creation of exploration tubes.

Exploration tubes are delicate structures constructed from saliva, mud, wood particles, and frass (insect faeces). These tubes act as tunnels, maintaining high humidity levels to prevent the termites from drying out, enabling them to explore areas that would otherwise be inaccessible. Typically, these tubes extend up trees or along walls (in which case, a call to an exterminator might be necessary). However, under specific conditions, they exhibit a more unusual pattern of exploration.
After rainfall, these exploration tubes sometimes stand upright amidst open soil. You often observe them emerging from the center of dirt roads following rain. In these instances, termites construct the tubes directly upward in the hope of encountering food sources above. When no food is found and the tube becomes structurally unsound due to its height, they abandon it and initiate the construction of a new exploration tube.
In conclusion, the termite's exploration tubes serve as a testament to their remarkable adaptability and resilience. These intricate structures, built with ingenuity, allow them to explore new food sources and discover previously inaccessible areas. By sharing the knowledge gained from observing these fascinating creations, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the intricate workings of the natural world and the remarkable strategies employed by even the smallest creatures to survive and thrive.

· Have you ever observed termites building exploration tubes? If so, where and under what conditions?
· What other fascinating examples of insect exploration have you encountered?
· How can we better understand and appreciate the intricate strategies that animals use to explore and survive in their environments?

If you would like to send me a message with your answers, feel free to do so on Instagram or Twitter @abugmanslife or via email to [email protected].

Meet Bugman!

Hi there, I'm Ludwig. As a passionate entomologist, I'm fascinated by the incredible world of insects! Did you know a termite queen can live for up to 50 years? Through this newsletter, I hope to share my experiences and ignite your curiosity about the vital role these tiny creatures play in our ecosystems. Let's Explore, Discover, and Share the wonders of the insect world together!  Next time you're outside, see if you can spot some fascinating ants or praying mantids – you might be surprised by what you discover!