| Termites
Below are images taken November 9,2002 at KOP after the
first rain of the season. These termites were emerging from the dead cottonwood
on the Grapevine Trail near marker #10. The immature ones appeared to chew
through the wood making an escape for the winged adults. Then the young
ones emerged as well, only to be disoriented and soon tried to return into
the hole. Termites were emerging everywhere and many creatures enjoyed
feasting on them before they flew away. It was quite a lot of fun to observe
this phenomenon with two first-time visitors to KOP, they were as fascinated
as I was and I was grateful for extra hands to hold the flashlight.
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Termites invade only dead or decaying wood. They do not
harm the living wood in a tree. So termites are actually good for trees.
Too bad we can't say the same thing about termites and
houses. |
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