carton

Termites, sometimes called white ants, are cellulose-eating insects whose social structures parallel those of ants and bees, though they evolved independently. Their closest relatives are cockroaches.1

Termites construct diverse nests. Some excavate galleries within wood, while others build subterranean nests or above-ground mounds. Arboreal nests are made of "carton," a mixture of fecal matter and wood fragments resembling papier-mâché. These nests can be fragile or very hard and are typically layered with cells. Large mounds, common in tropical regions, are often constructed from fine clay particles glued together with saliva, forming a hard outer wall with internal chambers.2