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A colony of subterranean termites
in
a pile of firewood which had been left in contact with the ground.
This is a cross section of a 2X4
showing damage by subterranean termites. It had been protected by
a coating of creosote. But after a number of years the protection ran
out.
By my thumb you see a mud wall
which the termites constructed in the space between boards. These
walls, or sometimes tubes, are to seal the high humidity inside the
tunnels from the dry air outside.
Here is another view of termite
tunnels. Frequently the wood between tunnels, and the outer
surface of the wood are paper thin. The board looks solid until its
surface crumbles under your touch.
[Taxonomy : Classification
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