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How are termite nests built from soil, chewed wood, saliva, and fecal matter?

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Learn how termites use salivary secretions to cement debris to decaying wood nests in their rainforest habitat — termite A termite nest in a tropical rainforest.

Termites construct their nests using a combination of soil, chewed wood, saliva, and fecal matter, which are manipulated by workers or old nymphs to create durable structures.12

The building process relies on these materials acting as binding agents:
* Cementing: Termites deposit fecal matter to serve as a cement, effectively gluing particles of soil, clay, or wood fragments together.2
* Carton: Many species create a material known as "carton," which is a mixture of fecal matter and wood fragments. This substance can range from papery and fragile to as hard as wood, resembling papier-mâché or cardboard.2
* Hardened Structures: For large mounds, termites often use fine clay particles glued together with saliva to form an exceedingly hard, protective outer wall.2

These materials allow termites to build diverse nest types, including subterranean chambers, arboreal structures, and prominent mounds, all designed to maintain a stable, humid, and protected microclimate for the colony.12