Guinea: Nzerekore – Mushroom Termites

As we drove toward Nzerekore, we spotted what looked like man-made mushroom statues. Upon examination, these were actually termite mound, perfectly shaped into mushrooms as if purchased in an outdoor decor store and placed along the roadway. The termite species that build these are Macrotermes termites. What’s more interesting, they actually grow mushrooms inside their mushroom or dome-shaped mounds. The mounds are made of soil, saliva, and fecal material, forming a hard and durable structure. The caps help regulate internal temperature and humidity for the termites to tend to their fungal gardens. Inside, Macrotermes termites cultivate a specific fungus called Termitomyces, which breaks down plant material into digestible nutrients that termites feed on.