Northern Territory 2022

The mounds are made using a centuries old technique by the termites.

The outer chambers are created with cut up grass stalks that have been stored. As they forage from underground, the mounds push skywards. When this happens, the outer chambers are abandoned and fill with soil to create a stronger structure. The Soldier Termites defend the mound with a sticky saliva type substance that traps intruders like ants and other critters. Each mound is thought to house one queen termite, who produces all the colony’s eggs.

As a general rule, the mounds last for around 50 to 100 years the same amount of time the queen termite is alive. The mounds themselves are the perfect home for the termites, which require a balanced amount of warmth and humidity throughout the year.

There are also magnetic termite mounds standing up to two metres high on a wide flat plain which are up to 100 years old. These structures are unique to the northern parts of Australia, including Litchfield National Park. Built by the Termites, they are amazing architectural feats complete with arches, tunnels, chimneys, insulation and nursery chambers. The mounds are aligned north to south to minimise the exposure to the sun which keep the mounds cool for the termites inside.Read more