Giant Mound Termite

Macrotermes michaelseni · Order: Blattodea · Family: Termitidae

No source yet on danger. We have no source yet on whether it bites, stings or damages anything.

Giant Mound Termite — Photo: Wilderness Safaris Botswana - Conservation Team, CC BY

Macrotermes michaelseni is a termite that lives in savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa and builds mounds in clay soils with high groundwater. A mature colony can hold over a million individuals, including workers, soldiers and nymphs, and the colony often re-establishes at the same spot if destroyed.

Source: Wikipedia

How to recognize it

The termites cultivate the fungus Termitomyces schimperi inside their mounds. The fungus produces large white scaly caps that grow above ground at the base of the mound.

Source: Wikipedia

Size

A mature colony may contain more than one million termites.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it lives

It occurs in savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa, especially where clay soils and high groundwater are present. In favorable areas up to six mounds can be found per hectare.

Source: Wikipedia

What it eats

Workers forage at night, collecting dead grass, grass litter and woody litter. In savannah woodland they also gather leaf litter from several tree species and later in the dry season they collect elephant dung.

Source: Wikipedia

Life cycle

Colonies can exceed a million individuals and include nymphs, workers and soldiers. If a colony is destroyed, new colonies often start again at the same location.

Source: Wikipedia