Got Termites?
Posted by Sean Ryan September 13, 2004

This large home for termites is about the size of a basketball. While in Costa Rica you'll see numerous termite nests. Which makes plenty of sense seeing as how there's an abundant amount of trees. Termites play a vital role in the ecosystem. When a tree dies in the rainforest, it eventually falls to the ground. Termites help speed up the rate at which the tree will be broken down, and the space cleared for new life. In our culture, even just the name strikes an unnerving cord. However not every culture despises such a unique species. Termites are one of the only species that can digest almost any substance. And due to this chemical, and what they eat, they have been associated with medical miracles by a Shaman in Africa. Scientists are now looking into what the capabilities of this chemical can be used for.