By Jaquiline S. Mudiriza
TERMITE hills are among some of the most overlooked formations of nature, with their unattractive and hardly outstanding features, they are definitely not just a pile of dirt as we might see them, rather they do play a major role in our environment and daily lives.
In Zimbabwe a lot of small scale farmers use the termite hill as a fertilizer as the soil is said to help retain soil moisture and texture.
According to The National Science Foundation (2015), termites might not top the list of humanity’s favorite insects, but new research suggests that their large dirt mounds are crucial to stopping deserts from spreading into semi-arid ecosystems.
Subsequently, the results indicate that termite mounds could make these areas more resilient to climate change.
The findings could also inspire a change in how scientists determine the possible effects of climate change on ecosystems. In the parched grasslands and savannas, or drylands of Africa, South America and Asia, termite mounds store nutrients and moisture and via internal tunnels, allow water to better penetrate the soil.
As a result, vegetation flourishes on and near termite mounds in ecosystems that are otherwise vulnerable to desertification. The Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine states that termites play a major role in recycling wood and plant material.
They tunnel the soil, making it porous, aerated and enrich it with minerals and nutrients. Some species of termite practice fungiculture as they maintain a “garden” of specialised fungi of the genus Termitomyces which are eaten.
Not to mention that the termites themselves are a delicacy in our motherland- Zimbabwe. They are also used for house construction, plastering, brick laying and also as burial sites especially in rural Zimbabwe. So next time you come across a termite hill, take time to appreciate this gem to nature.
