Giant Termite Nests

Mastotermes darwiniensis, common names giant northern termite and Darwin termite

Throughout the forest and across the swathes of open landscape, these magnificent mounds stand up to two metres high, jutting skywards and showcasing an amazing feat of nature.

The structures around 100 years old, and are unique to this part of Australia. In the national park, you can see hundreds of these mounds.

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 the forage from underground, the mounds push skywards. When this happens, the outer chambers are abandoned and filled instead with soil to create a stronger structure.

The soldier caste of termites defends 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 live 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.Read more