In Zhejiang, a dam excavated one million termites, with three termite queens having grown for over 10 years, able to gnaw through reinforced steel and cement. How terrifying is the destructive power of this “ant nest horror” termite legion?

The ancients said, "A thousand-mile embankment can be destroyed by an ant hole," and this is not just an empty saying.

In April 2023, Zhejiang staged a real-life version of the "plague of crazy ants," where a huge ant nest was discovered in a dam reservoir, and thousands of termites fled in all directions.

In Xiangshan County, Zhejiang Province, there is a large dam at a reservoir, protecting the land and providing services such as flood control, irrigation, and water supply to the local area. However, deep within it, there is a huge termite nest, resembling an underground kingdom, with a diameter of 0.8 meters and a frightening depth of 4 meters.

Experts predict that the population of this ant country is astonishing, possibly exceeding one million. The residents of the ant country have clearly defined roles, such as worker ants and soldier ants, and three large queens called ant queens. For over a decade, they have been quietly working and multiplying in this nest, with a population so large that it is uncountable.

Although the termite kingdom is shocking, it is bad news for the dam. Termites do not directly gnaw on steel and cement, but they can follow the cracks in the cement to find relatively humid areas and dig out tunnels. Once the tunnels are dug, the structural safety of the dam will be threatened.

They may become channels for seepage, increasing the risk of dam piping. More frighteningly, the formic acid of termites also has a certain corrosive effect on steel bars and cement. Over time, the structural strength of the dam will gradually weaken, like a biscuit that has been nibbled by ants, crumbling with a pinch.

"The 'Ant Kingdom' came to light, and the local government and related departments immediately realized the serious consequences. They promptly organized a team of experts to inspect and repair the dam. Professionals used various high-tech methods, such as baiting and drug treatment, to vow to eradicate these termites once and for all."

The fact has proven that if the cracks and ant tunnels in the dam are not repaired and reinforced, there is a high possibility of the catastrophic incident known as "collapse hole." A three-story residential building in Shunde, Foshan, has also been plagued by termites for as long as ten years. The wooden furniture in the house is not intact, and even the main supporting beam of the house has been eaten away by the termites by half.

It is said that humans can easily crush ants, but why do tiny white ants have such astonishing destructive power? Where does their "combat effectiveness" come from?

The body length of termites is usually only a few millimeters, but winged adults can grow to 10-30 millimeters in length. The reproductive glands of the termite queen are very developed, and the abdomen can inflate like a balloon, so the body length can reach 60-70 millimeters. Some types of termite queens can even exceed 100 millimeters, which is considered a giant in the insect world!

Their heads are not big, but they serve as a communication and sensing command center. The two antennae act like antennas, helping them perceive the environment around them. Most termites have a pair of compound eyes and simple eyes, with the compound eyes of worker and soldier termites usually being in a degenerative state, but they still have sharp simple eyes.

Although termites are called "白蚁" in Chinese, in fact, there are many different colors, including yellow and black. However, most termites are close to grayish-white in color, hence the name. Their bodies are as if wearing a specially made armor, the degree of chitinization varies by species, with the body wall of winged adults being harder, and the body wall of worker termites being softer.

Termites are especially fond of warm and humid environments. The closer to the equator, the lower the latitude, the more types and numbers of termites there are. They live in a semi-enclosed nest system where the carbon dioxide content is ten to hundreds of times higher than the air, creating a natural greenhouse effect.

Actually, just one or two termites won't cause much commotion, but termites have a very cohesive "division of labor" within their society, which is quite intimidating. They are divided into the queen, males, soldiers, and workers, each with their own roles in the termite society, much like a sophisticated machine that can operate in a cycle.

The termite queen is the only reproductive machine in termite society, solely responsible for eating, drinking, and reproducing. With well-developed reproductive organs, their bodies are much larger than the average termite. Their existence is like the "power center" of the termite colony, capable of releasing pheromones to maintain the stability of the entire group.

In the business of reproduction, male ants can be said to be nothing but cannon fodder. Their main task is to mate with the queen ant, but after mating they are ruthlessly kicked out of the nest. Therefore, in a termite colony, the number of male ants is relatively small, and their lives are more like a flash in the pan.

Soldier ants are the true guardians. They typically have powerful mandibles and a tough exoskeleton to protect the nest from external threats. While their numbers are not large, their status within the colony is slightly higher than that of the male ants, serving as the "final shield" of the termite kingdom.

As for worker ants, they are what we often call "hardworking laborers." They construct nests, collect food, and even take care of the young when they have spare time. They are small in size, move quickly, and their numbers far exceed those of other ant species, silently supporting the operation of the entire termite colony.

There is a saying online that once you discover a termite, there may already be ten thousand of them in your home. These "mini demolition teams" at home specifically target wooden structures such as wardrobes, bookshelves, and bed frames. The wooden parts of this furniture serve as a buffet for termites, causing them to feast heartily. This leads to deformation, cracking, or even the direct disposal of the furniture.

They also have the tactic called "destroying flowers with a cruel hand," targeting crops such as sugarcane, corn, and rice, eating the roots, stems, and leaves of plants, reducing crop yields. Therefore, in some southern regions, termites have even become the number one enemy of crops, seriously undermining farmers' economic benefits.

More deadly is that the "formic acid" from termites is corrosive, able to erode the insulation of wires and cables, causing short circuits or electrical malfunctions. In severe cases, damaged wires and cables can lead to fires, adversely impacting people's lives and property safety.

In May 2023, the Qingjing Temple community in Suining Economic Development Zone, Sichuan, encountered a "termite invasion." Multiple residents' homes were invaded, from door frames to walls and even electrical wires. In order to clean out termite nests, it is necessary to maintain a clean and dry environment, and pay attention to ventilation and lighting indoors and outdoors.

Because termites are phototropic, especially at dusk, especially after rain, we must make sure to close doors and windows or draw curtains, and turn off unnecessary lights. If necessary, we can use chemical control methods, such as using environmentally friendly and low-toxicity insecticides, but it is essential to pay attention to the correct usage instructions.

The saying goes, "Even grains of sand can form a tower." It is surprising that tiny white ants gathering together can also possess a formidable force. It truly makes people marvel at the wonders of nature. If you find a white ant nest in your home, it is best to clean it up promptly to prevent future troubles. Thank you for reading.