Scientist At Work: Observing Termite Behaviours, Personalities – And Souls?

Plants and Animals





Photo credit:

Tiny termites build mega mounds. Christopher T Cooper

In Afrikaans, they are called rysmiere, literally “rice ants,” although their name is more commonly rendered into English as “white ants.” They are not ants, though; they’re not even closely related to the ants. In fact, their nearest insect relatives are cockroaches: they are termites.