#FloraAndFaunaFriday: Termites
- Gregory Andrews
- Jun 19
- 1 min read
When most people hear the word termite, they think of house damage, pest controllers and poison. But termites are some of the hardest-working animals on the Australian continent.
They break down dead wood, recycle nutrients back into the soil, improve water infiltration, create habitat and food for countless other species and help reduce fuel loads that can feed bushfires. In many parts of Australia, termites process more dead plant material than any other animal group.
Australia’s home to hundreds of termite species, each playing a role in keeping ecosystems healthy and productive.
I photographed this giant termite mound in the Tanami Desert more than a decade ago. My kids standing beside it provide a sense of scale. What looks like a simple pile of dirt is actually a living city, engineered by millions of tiny insects working together.
Sometimes the species we value least are doing some of the most important work. So before reaching for the poison, it’s worth remembering that termites are building, repairing and maintaining the Australian landscape every day.
I suspect most native animals, unlike introduced species, play a part in keeping our environment healthy. So when I get a leech on me I remove it and put it back in the grass rather than kill it. I have no idea though what part it plays in the environment!