Termite Mound Stock Photo

Termites build their own houses, one of the most impressive structures in the animal world. Their mounds are forever-evolving cities, made from the simplest materials. Working independently, without any coordinator or blueprint to reference, they construct temperature-controlled environments that include elaborate ventilation and cooling systems, and specialized chambers that store food, contain fungal gardens, hold eggs, and house the egg-producing queen. As a colony, they are able to create worlds that far exceed their individual capabilities. Termite can teach many lessons to architects and fans of sustainable living.