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Magnetic TermitesBy Zoe Little

Termites or white ants are very clever. They live in magnetic mounds. Magnetic mounds are called magnetic because they face north. Magnetic mounds can be 100 years old and up to 2 metres tall. The builder ants are completely blind due to a lack of light inside the mound. The queen lays all the eggs – that is a lot of babies to look after!

The magnetic termite mounds are found only in far north Australia. In Litchfield National Park there are hundreds of magnetic termite mounds. They look like giant grey head stones in an old forgotten cemetery…or soldiers all standing in formation facing the same way. The magnetic mounds all point north because it helps keep the inside at the same temperature all the time. The termites have very thin skin and like the temperature at 30° Celsius.

Inside a termite mound

No one knows why magnetic termite mounds are only found in Australia even though termites are found all over the world. A

A termite mound in Africa

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Magnetic termite mounds at Litchfield National Park

A magnetic termite