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A termite nest can be considered as being composed of 2 parts, the inanimate and the animate. The animate is all of the termites living inside the colony, and the inanimate part is the structure itself, which can be constructed by the termites. Nests can be broadly divided into three main classes: subterranean (entirely below ground), epigeal (protruding above the soil surface), and arboreal (built above ground, but constantly connected to the ground via shelter tubes).184 Epigeal nests (mounds) protrude from the ground with ground contact and are created from earth and sand.

Most termites construct underground colonies rather than multifunctional nests and mounds.186 Primitive termites of today nest in wooden structures such as logs, stumps and the dead portions of trees, as did termites millions of years ago.184.

To build their nests, termites primarily utilize faeces, which have many desirable properties as a construction material. Other building materials include partly digested plant material, used in carton nests (arboreal nests built from faecal elements and wood), and soil, used in subterranean nest and mound construction. Not all nests are observable, as many nests in tropical forests are located underground.186 Species in the subfamily Apicotermitinae are great examples of subterranean nest contractors, since they only reside inside tunnels.

Nests and mounds protect the termites' tender bodies against desiccation, light, pathogens and parasites, as well as providing a fortification against predators.188 Nests made from carton are especially weak, and thus the inhabitants utilize counter-attack strategies against invading predators. .

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Arboreal carton nests of mangrove swamp-dwelling Nasutitermes are enriched in lignin and depleted in cellulose and xylans. This change is caused by bacterial illness in the gut of the termites: they use their faeces as a carton building substance. Arboreal termites nests can account for up to 2% of above ground carbon monoxide in Puerto Rican mangrove swamps.

Some species build intricate nests called polycalic nests; this habitat is known as polycalism. Polycalic species of termites sort numerous nests, or calies, connected with subterranean chambers.107 The termite genera Apicotermes and Trinervitermes are known to possess polycalic species.191 Polycalic nests seem to be frequent in mound-building species although polycalic arboreal nests have been observed in a few species of Nasutitermes.191.

Nests are considered mounds should they protrude from the planet's surface. A mound provides termites exactly the exact same protection for a nest but is stronger.189 Mounds located in regions having torrential and continuous rainfall are at risk of mound erosion due to their clay-rich construction. Those made from carton can provide protection against the rain, and in fact can withstand large precipitation.

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For instance, Cubitermes colonies construct narrow tunnels used as strong points, as the width of the tunnels is small enough for soldiers to obstruct.192 A Related Site highly secure chamber, known as the"queens mobile", houses the queen and king and can be used as a last line of defence. .

Species in the genus Macrotermes arguably build the most complicated structures in the insect world, constructing enormous mounds. These mounds are among the biggest in the world, reaching a height of 8 to 9 metres (26 to 29 feet), and consist of chimneys, pinnacles and ridges.56 Another termite species, Amitermes meridionalis, can construct nests 3 to 4 metres (9 to 13 feet) high and 2.5 metres (8 feet) wide.

The sculptured mounds sometimes have elaborate and distinctive types, like those of their compass termite (Amitermes meridionalis and A. laurensis), which builds tall, wedge-shaped mounds with the long axis oriented approximately northsouth, which gives them their common name.194195 This orientation has been experimentally shown to assist thermoregulation. The north-south orientation causes the internal temperature of a mound to increase rapidly during the morning when avoiding overheating from the midday sun.

Termites construct shield tubes, also known as earthen tubes or sand tubes, that start from the ground. These shield tubes can be found on walls and other structures.197 Constructed by termites during the night, a period of high humidity, these tubes provide protection to termites from potential predators, especially ants.198 Shelter tubes also provide high humidity and darkness and permit employees to collect food resources that cannot be obtained in any other way.197 All these passageways are produced from dirt and faeces and are normally brown in colour.

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They range from less than 1 cm to several cm in diameter, but might extend dozens of yards in length.198.

Owing to their own wood-eating habits, many termite species can do significant harm to unprotected buildings and other wooden constructions.199 Termites play an important role as decomposers of wood and vegetative material, and the conflict with humans occurs where structures and landscapes containing structural wood components, cellulose derived structural materials and ornamental vegetation provide termites with a trusted source of food and moisture.200;Their custom of remaining concealed often results in their presence being undetected until the timbers are severely damaged, leaving a thin coating of a wall that protects them in your environment.201 Of the 3,106 species known, only 183 species cause damage; 83 species cause significant damage to wooden structures.199 In North America, 18 subterranean species are pests202; in Australia, 16 species have an economic effect; in the Indian subcontinent 26 species are considered pests, and in tropical Africa, 24.