Scans from Scientific American - Termites from Africa - nasutitermes_kempae.jpg Nasutitermes kempae
A Termitid Termite (Isoptera: Termitidae) of South Africa
Scientific Classification
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Uniramia
Class: Insecta
Order: Isoptera
Family: Nasutitermitidae
Subfamily: Nasutitermitinae
Genus: Nasutitermes
Tribe: Procornitermitini
Soldiers of a termite species, Nasutitermes kempae found in Africa, cluster around the entrance to a foraging tube that has been opened to allow for photography. The snouts of four of the soldiers point in the general direction of the camera. This orientation is not accidental. Although termites are blind, the soldiers have oriented in response to air currents caused by the photographer's movement.
Martin Kramer
mkramer@wxs.nl
http://home.wxs.nl/~mkramer/
