Wall color:
|
Termites are ancient, long living creatures that colonize most land masses except Antarctica. When people first think about termites, they are usually considered to be pests found in frenzied dashes intent on destroying homes. However, in reality, they serve important roles in the environment and in aiding humans with technology. They are one of the main pollinators of the critically endangered Western Underground Orchid. Termites also help to decompose dead trees and aerate the soil which increases soil quality, allowing forests to regrow faster.Termites use sophisticated means to carefully regulate the temperature of their mounds. They utilize the stack effect, which has become a popular technique to achieve natural ventilation and passive cooling in modern buildings.
This painting was inspired by witnessing a massive swarm of young, winged kings and queens in a nuptial flight to find a new home. In Africa, when the conditions are right, often with the first rains of the season, the air is filled with winged termites in a random frenzy. The morning after the rain and frenzied flights, we found piles of wings and termites clustered in the puddles of water around our camp lights.
