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King Solomon, one of history’s most famous builders, was impressed by the preparation and organization of ants, Prov. 6. 6-8. He would certainly have been amazed by the architectural genius of all the social insects - ants, termites, and some bees and wasps - in how they build their different types of nests. Among all the animals that build, including birds, some spiders, crustaceans, fish, reptiles and mammals, it is the social insects, such as termites, that create complex structures most like human architects and engineers. God has given these tiny creatures, with their tiny brains, the instincts and abilities to work so well together.
Termites need massive nests, because there may be millions of individuals in one colony. Nests usually contain a royal bedroom, nurseries, gardens, waste dumps and a ventilation system. While many species dig their homes underground, some build mounds above ground, with the largest ever found being 13 m high! An impressive nest design by the Macrotermes bellicosus termite from Africa includes an arch. These miniscule insects build the two bases of the arch separately and then manage to join them at the top. This is only possible when you have a good sense of 3D space, and yet these termites are blind.
The Compass termites of Australia make tall, skinny mounds that are narrow on the sides facing north and south, and wide on the sides i facing east and west. This design keeps a more stable temperature as the narrowest sides face the sun at the hottest time of the day. Lost travellers have found their way by using these nests as compasses. Many termite nests include a complex ventilation system that keeps them cool. One species in Africa makes a nest that can maintain its temperature almost within 1 degree of 30°C. Architect Mick Pearce designed a building in Zimbabwe similar to the structure of a termite mound, greatly reducing the need for expensive air conditioning. It is thought that termite mounds may one day inspire ‘living, breathing’ architecture.
As we finish this Fascinating Facts series, I hope you have found the articles interesting and that they have provided ample evidence of a Creator God with many reasons to praise Him for His greatness. The Bible not only tells of His great power, Ps. 147. 5, but also of His great love, Eph. 2. 4. How have you responded to His greatness, and to His love for you?
JAMES L. Gould, Animal Architects, Basic Books, 2007.
B. Holldobler and E. O. Wilson, The Superorganism: The Beauty, Elegance and Strangeness of Insect Societies,
https://www.mickpearce.com/biomimicry.html. Accessed 07/08/2024.
