Termite Intelligent Design
by Owen Borville
August 8, 2020
Biology
Termites are so widespread that they consist of an estimated 10 percent of all animal biomass and 95 percent of soil and insect biomass in tropical regions. The biomass of every termite in the world is more than the biomass of all humans in the world. Each year, termites cause more than 5 billion dollars in property damage as they chew on wood frames. Termites chew on wood for the cellulose material found in the wood. Termites depend on bacteria in their digestive systems to digest the wood cellulose plant fibers. Termite bodies are rich in iron, calcium, fatty and amino acids, and proteins, making them a highly nutritious food for a number of small mammals such as anteaters, aardvarks, echidnas, mongooses, moles, and bats.
Termites are described as living fossils, claimed to have lived up to 250 million years old according to the fossil record, but this proposed age with no change in anatomy is indicative of much younger time scale within the thousands of years, according to the creation model.
Colonies and Mounds
Termites never sleep and build their colonies continuously, 24-hours a day until they die. The largest termite colonies can contain millions of termites. Some termite species build mounds upward that look like buildings. In Africa, some of these mounds can reach 30 feet. Only certain termites in the colony actually chew on the wood material and this material must be distributed to the other members of the colony who do not consume the wood.
The above-ground portion of the mound is filled with holes, which lead to a complex pattern of tunnels. Below the mound is a large nest where the queen lives a meter underground. The tunnels allow air to circulate throughout the mound above ground and below to the queen's nest and provide good ventilation. During the day, the air in the outer areas of the mound warm quicker than the inner section of the mound, causing the warm air to rise, while cooler air in the central mound sinks, creating a circulation pattern of air movement. During the cooler evenings, the reverse circulation pattern occurs. The design of the termite mound is even being used to design modern buildings for humans with intricate porous walls with connecting tunnels.
Unique Abilities and Behaviors
Termites and ants are major competitors and fight over territory and food. Termites groom themselves often to prevent disease from harmful microorganisms. Termites also eat each other's waste products in order to replenish their bodies with important microorganisms they need. Termites are mostly blind and perform their activities without sight. Only the reproductive type of termites can see and use their sight to find mates. Only kings and queens can fly, and do so to find mates and start new colonies. After finding a new home, the wings are broken off and a new colony is established. Termite queens can be several inches long in length.
Communication
Similar to ants, termites have a complex social system of communication where different roles are assigned within the colony. Termites communicate by secreting a variety of pheromones or chemical scents from glands on their chests. Termites have sense organs on their antennae and tibiae that allow them to sense vibrations and acoustic signals in wood. Termites also use vibrations to communicate with each other by banging their head against tunnel walls and creating vibrations, which can then be sensed by other termites to warn them of an incoming threat.
Termite queens can lay up to 40,000 eggs per day while termite queens can live up to 50 years, therefore producing many eggs and offspring, up to 10 million per year. Termite queens assign roles to her young.
by Owen Borville
August 8, 2020
Biology
Termites are so widespread that they consist of an estimated 10 percent of all animal biomass and 95 percent of soil and insect biomass in tropical regions. The biomass of every termite in the world is more than the biomass of all humans in the world. Each year, termites cause more than 5 billion dollars in property damage as they chew on wood frames. Termites chew on wood for the cellulose material found in the wood. Termites depend on bacteria in their digestive systems to digest the wood cellulose plant fibers. Termite bodies are rich in iron, calcium, fatty and amino acids, and proteins, making them a highly nutritious food for a number of small mammals such as anteaters, aardvarks, echidnas, mongooses, moles, and bats.
Termites are described as living fossils, claimed to have lived up to 250 million years old according to the fossil record, but this proposed age with no change in anatomy is indicative of much younger time scale within the thousands of years, according to the creation model.
Colonies and Mounds
Termites never sleep and build their colonies continuously, 24-hours a day until they die. The largest termite colonies can contain millions of termites. Some termite species build mounds upward that look like buildings. In Africa, some of these mounds can reach 30 feet. Only certain termites in the colony actually chew on the wood material and this material must be distributed to the other members of the colony who do not consume the wood.
The above-ground portion of the mound is filled with holes, which lead to a complex pattern of tunnels. Below the mound is a large nest where the queen lives a meter underground. The tunnels allow air to circulate throughout the mound above ground and below to the queen's nest and provide good ventilation. During the day, the air in the outer areas of the mound warm quicker than the inner section of the mound, causing the warm air to rise, while cooler air in the central mound sinks, creating a circulation pattern of air movement. During the cooler evenings, the reverse circulation pattern occurs. The design of the termite mound is even being used to design modern buildings for humans with intricate porous walls with connecting tunnels.
Unique Abilities and Behaviors
Termites and ants are major competitors and fight over territory and food. Termites groom themselves often to prevent disease from harmful microorganisms. Termites also eat each other's waste products in order to replenish their bodies with important microorganisms they need. Termites are mostly blind and perform their activities without sight. Only the reproductive type of termites can see and use their sight to find mates. Only kings and queens can fly, and do so to find mates and start new colonies. After finding a new home, the wings are broken off and a new colony is established. Termite queens can be several inches long in length.
Communication
Similar to ants, termites have a complex social system of communication where different roles are assigned within the colony. Termites communicate by secreting a variety of pheromones or chemical scents from glands on their chests. Termites have sense organs on their antennae and tibiae that allow them to sense vibrations and acoustic signals in wood. Termites also use vibrations to communicate with each other by banging their head against tunnel walls and creating vibrations, which can then be sensed by other termites to warn them of an incoming threat.
Termite queens can lay up to 40,000 eggs per day while termite queens can live up to 50 years, therefore producing many eggs and offspring, up to 10 million per year. Termite queens assign roles to her young.