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A termite nest can be considered as being composed of two parts, both the inanimate and the animate. The animate is all the termites living inside the colony, and the inanimate part is the structure itself, which is constructed by the termites. Nests can be broadly separated into three main categories: subterranean (completely below ground), epigeal (protruding above the soil surface), and arboreal (built above ground, but always connected to the ground via shelter tubes).184 Epigeal nests (mounds) protrude from the earth with ground contact and are created from earth and mud.

Most termites construct underground colonies rather than multifunctional nests and mounds.186 Primitive termites of now nest in wooden structures such as logs, stumps and the dead portions of trees, as did termites millions of years back.184.

To build their nests, termites mostly utilize faeces, which have many desirable properties as a construction material. Other building materials include partially digested plant material, used in carton nests (arboreal nests built from faecal elements and timber ), and dirt, used in subterranean nest and mound construction. Not all nests are visible, as many nests in tropical woods are situated underground.186 Species in the subfamily Apicotermitinae are good examples of subterranean nest contractors, since they only dwell inside tunnels.

Nests and mounds protect the termites' soft bodies against desiccation, light, pathogens and parasites, as well as providing a fortification against predators.188 Nests made from carton are especially weak, and thus the inhabitants utilize counter-attack strategies against invading predators. .

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Arboreal carton nests of mangrove swamp-dwelling Nasutitermes are enriched in lignin and depleted in cellulose and xylans. This change is caused by bacterial decay in the intestine of their termites: they utilize their faeces as a carton building substance. Arboreal termites nests can account for as much as 2% of above ground carbon monoxide in Puerto Rican mangrove swamps.

Some species build intricate nests known as polycalic nests; this habitat is known as polycalism. Polycalic species of termites sort numerous nests, or calies, connected with subterranean chambers.107 The termite genera Apicotermes and Trinervitermes are known to possess polycalic species.191 Polycalic nests seem to be less frequent in mound-building species although polycalic arboreal nests have been observed in a few species of Nasutitermes.191.

Nests are considered mounds if they protrude from the planet's surface. A mound provides termites the exact same protection as a nest but is stronger.189 Mounds found in areas with torrential and continuous rainfall are in danger of mound erosion as a result of their clay-rich construction. Those made from carton can provide protection from the rain, and in fact can withstand large precipitation.

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For instance, Cubitermes colonies construct narrow tunnels utilized as strong points, since the width of the tunnels is little enough for soldiers to obstruct.192 A highly secure chamber, known as the"queens cell", houses the queen and king and can be employed as a final line of defence. .

Species in the genus Macrotermes arguably construct the most complex structures in the insect world, constructing enormous mounds. These mounds are among the largest in the world, reaching a height of 8 to 9 metres (26 to 29 feet), and consist of chimneys, pinnacles and ridges.56 Another termite species, Amitermes meridionalis, can build nests 3 to 4 metres (9 to 13 ft ) high and 2.5 metres (8 feet) wide.

The sculptured mounds occasionally have elaborate and distinctive forms, like those of the compass termite (Amitermes meridionalis and A. laurensis), which builds tall, wedge-shaped mounds with the long axis oriented approximately northsouth, which gives them their common name.194195 This orientation has been experimentally shown to Continued assist thermoregulation. The north-south orientation causes the internal temperature of a mound to increase quickly during the morning when avoiding overheating from the midday sun.

Termites construct shield tubes, also known as earthen tubes or sand tubes, that start from the ground. These shield tubes can be found on walls and other structures.197 Constructed by termites during the night, a period of higher humidity, so these tubes provide protection to termites from potential predators, especially ants.198 Shelter tubes also provide high humidity and darkness and allow employees to collect food resources that cannot be obtained in any other manner.197 These passageways are produced from dirt and faeces and are normally brown in color.

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They range from less than 1 cm to several cm in diameter, but might extend dozens of yards in length.198.

Owing to their own wood-eating habits, many termite species can do significant harm to unprotected buildings and other wooden constructions.199 Termites play an important role as decomposers of wood and vegetative material, and the conflict with humans happens where structures and landscapes containing structural wood components, cellulose derived structural materials and ornamental vegetation provide termites with a reliable supply of food and moisture.200;Their habit of remaining concealed often results in their presence being undetected until the timbers are seriously damaged, leaving a thin coating of a wall that protects them in the environment.201 Of the 3,106 species known, only 183 species cause harm; 83 species cause significant damage to wooden structures.199 In North America, 18 subterranean species are pests202; in Australia, 16 species have an economic effect; in the Indian subcontinent 26 species are considered pests, and in tropical Africa, 24.