The high termites

  The high termities constitutes an element important of the landscape of the vicinity of Lubumbashi, to which they give a particular seal.
This real tumuli, erected by Macrotermes falciger (formerly Macrotermes goliath), are sparse in the whole High-Katanga. The high termites is frequented in clear forest, vegetation that covers 85% of the territory of the vicinity of Lubumbashi. They sometimes make defect in the bottom of the valleys and the savannas periodically flooded and exondées, even named "dembo". When they exist there, they are generally deserted by the termites builders. So like new contribution of materials doesn't come to compensate the losses by erosion, this high termites ends up spreading completely. However the former sites of the mounds recognize themselves again on the aerial photographs under shapes of whitish stains exalted of bushes. The zone of menuring of products, visible on aerial photograph, can have 50 meters of diameter. On the land, the presence of zones to high gramineous immoderate testifies often of the past "termite" of this surroundings swamp.
Under clear forest little influenced by the action anthropique, or lately secondary as well as in the dry dense forests, the high termite is raised. They reach 8 easily or even to 10 meters of top, on 14-15 meters, 20 meters, of diameter to the basis and regain 6% of the surface thus on average. The general shape is the one of a depressed dome that sometimes surmounts a trilled bud of large size. During his/her/its evolution and that, thanks to the erosive action of rain, the high termite passes by a set of successive stages that will drive it to the shape in dome that one knows him. To the origin, the termitière is represented by a primary bud entirely built by the workers termites and calm on the floor. To this stage predominate the erosion by the splash and the micro-crumblings that give birth to a small glaze to the foot of the primitive cone. The glaze is colonized quickly by the herbaceous vegetation that offers an obstacle to the faraway practice of the materials that will be pulled subsequently to the bud. The basis enlarges, while some earth accumulates all around. As soon as the mound reached a volume and a height is sufficient, intervene the diffuse streaming and especially the slips on the flanks. This last process is encouraged in particular by the system root of the plants that regains the dome henceforth.
To the present stage, the termites that is established in the forest dense dry partially maintains a certain primary activity. In the clear forests, the termites in activity is rare, or she/it is assured then by secondary colonies that erect some chimneys in the summit or on the flanks of the mounds.
After the passage of the yearly bush fire or in the clear forests greatly damaged, the high termitières is recognizable on aerial photographs either to their shape, either to the presence of bouquets of bushes perched to their summit and that give to the landscape the aspect of a forest made of mosaic. The high termites can be counted thus easily and a density close to the calculated reality. This density varies between 2,7 and 4,9 units to the hectare according to the nature of soil. The obvious volume can reach several hundreds of cubic meters, or even one thousand. It is on the most clayey soils than the density and the volume are the biggest.
The content made of clay of the soils of the high termites varies with the type of substratum that acted as source of raw materials. In the well developed termitières, this content is from 10 to 20% more elevated than the one of the horizons of the surrounding soils. The pH of the soils of the heart of the neighboring termite often the neutrality and pass 1,5 to 2 units the one of soils situated between the tumuli. In the same way, the content in exchangeable bases is raised more; Mg and That can reach some contents 2 respectively to 5, or even 10 times more elevated than those of the surrounding soils. The calcium reaches some concentrations in particular there sometimes as it forms real nodules.
This wealth in bases of the high termite has been put for a long time to profit by the autochthonous agriculturist whom there practices, after a simple scarification of the surface of the nipple, his/her/its usual cultures,: the bean, the gourd and especially the corn. The arasement of the high termites is indeed an arduous work that only the mechanized agriculture makes necessary and can allow; but in this case, the termite loses its fertility quickly. is right of 5 termites well developed by hectare, the display of their earth would be equivalent to a layer of soil of about 30 centimeters.
A second use of the high termites consists in the use of the earth for the artisanal production of bricks. A standard measurements termite can provide between 200.000 and 300.000 bricks of 5 x 8 x 20 cm. Also, at the time of new plots, the presence of a termite in a parcel is it wished. In the gardens, they can constitute a decorative element and permit one terracings of the ornamental plants, that are not without recalling the gardens of the rockeries of the moderate regions.