How tall can the mounds of African Macrotermes termites grow?

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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.

The mounds constructed by certain African Macrotermes species are among the most impressive in the insect world, reaching heights of 8 to 9 metres (26.2 to 29.5 feet).1

These structures are built using fine clay particles cemented together with saliva, resulting in an exceptionally hard material. The exterior of these mounds often features ridges, chimneys, and pinnacles, while the interior contains complex galleries and honeycomb-like structures used for growing fungus.1