Compound Laser Guide
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 Klutch Compound Sliding Miter Saw with Laser Guide 10in  US $139.99
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 New Laser Marker Guide Compound Miter Guage Saw Chop US $8.49
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 10 SLIDE COMPOUND MITER SAW WITH LASER GUIDE US $139.00
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Hitachi C12LSH 15 Amp 12-Inch Dual Bevel Sliding Compound Miter saw with Laser Guide and Digital Bevel Display List Price: $1,319.58 Sale Price: $529.99 Average Rating:   |
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The award-winning Hitachi C12LSH 12-Inch Sliding Dual Compound Miter Saw with Laser Marker and Digital Display provides smooth, accurate miters and crosscuts in a variety of workpieces, including wood, plywood, crown molding, decorative panels, soft fiberboard, hard board, and aluminum sashes... |
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Construction Zone 40317 10 inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw with Laser List Price: $159.99 Sale Price: $119.99 |
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- Klutch Compound Sliding Miter Saw with Laser Guide - 10in. Sale Price: $139.99 Average Rating:  |
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The Klutch Compound Sliding Miter Saw with laser cutting guide provides precision miter cutting up to 45deg . Adjustable pivot fence allows cutting larger stock. Features 2.4 HP motor, trigger safety button and transparent blade guide... |
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Makita LS1214L 12-Inch Dual Slide Compound Miter Saw with Laser Guide List Price: $629.00 Sale Price: $579.95 Average Rating:  |
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Step up in class to the Makita LS1214L 12-Inch Dual Slide Compound Miter Saw with Laser Guide, and enjoy the rewards: unparalleled power, superior cutting capacity, and a host of user-friendly features... |
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Professional Woodworker 7802 8 1/4-Inch Compound Miter Saw with Laser Guide List Price: $106.99 Sale Price: $69.99 |
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Professional-Grade 10" Sliding Compound Miter Saw with Laser Cut Guide Sale Price: $143.99 Average Rating: |
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10" Compund Miter Saw with Laser Guide. Features a 2HP, 120 volt, 15 Amp Motor. No Load Speed: 5300 RPM. Laser Guide for precise cuts. Cutting capacity: 90 Degree: 3" x 12", 45 Degree: 2" x 8-1/2". Table Tilts: 45 degrees Left or Right... |
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909 MS812PUL 10.5-amp 8.5-inch Compound Miter Saw with Laser Guide List Price: $69.99 Sale Price: $69.99 |
Termites: A Liturgy of Description
Termites have been labeled with several descriptions either due to their ‘way of life, resemblance to Cockroach or ants, feeding activities, mound or nest construction, habitat, ecological/niche diversity, etc.
Therefore it is not surprising to have such termite descriptions as: damp wood-termites, dry wood-termites, subterranean-termites, arboreal or tree-dwelling termites, wood-feeders, soil or humus-feeders, grass-feeders, cathedral-like builders, dwellers in darkness, cryptic organism, white ant, etc. Their habitation has also been given such names as “termitarium, mound, or nest.
The roles of these insects within and outside their “colonies” are also worth mentioning. Hence, we have them classified into “castes” (or types). There are the worker castes (which could be male or female, depending on the species). These ones explore their vicinity for food, feed the entire colony, take care of the royal pair(s) and the young, regulate the population according to the need of the colony at particular time of the year, repair any damage done to their home, and expand the colony through additional construction to their mound. Sometimes, they assist the soldiers in colony defense.
The other caste is the soldier caste. They are solely and primarily responsible for the defense of the Kingdom. They are ready to lose their lives in carrying out this important and privileged assignment. The soldiers, over time have devised series of survival strategies in the midst of various hostile environment in which they found themselves. They have developed and improved on their defense mechanisms and strategies. There are those soldiers that engage in a “one to one” battle strategy, by biting and cutting their enemies into pieces. This form of defense may result to high loss of lives where the enemies (mainly ants) are large in number. A typical example is found in Macrotermes bellicosus and M. subhylinus. There are others that utilize topical application of a whitish chemical substance on their enemies. This substance has been found to contain terpenoid, alcoholic, aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic compounds. The enemy must be close to the termite soldier before it can be applied. This is more effective than the mechanical type, as the termites exudes and carries this chemical material in their mouth, and applies it to the enemy on contact with it. Again, more soldiers may be lost in battle if the enemies are larger in number than the termites. One can possibly infer that this could be the fore runner to the development of short-range chemical warheads in the more advanced human species. Examples of termite soldiers utilizing this mode of defense can be found in the family Shedorhinotermitidae such as Coptotermes species and Schedorhinotermes spp.
A more advanced form of this chemical defense system is found in the Nasutitermitinae (Nasutitermes spp. and Trinervitermes spp.). This “cryptic” insect sprays their lethal chemical substances over some distances without having to leave their “nest”. The designers and producers of intercontinental ballistic missiles and other laser-guided missiles might have borrowed this sophistication from the Nasutitermitinae, without paying for the patency. What these insects do not have is probably the platform to launch their potent chemicals against their perceived enemies. Who knows, some species may be evolving to include this in their defense programs.
The sociality of these super organisms (apology to Scott Turner), literally describes their living together as one unit, and developing a highly sophisticated “division of labour”, where every member of the colony does one task or the other without being forced, coerced or reminded to do so. Through this community-based social system, they have been able to survive the odds, and have continued to expand their horizons through occupation and colonization of more territories.
The Reproductive caste, arguably the coordinating and generalissimo of the colony, is made up of the Queen and the King. These pair mates and lay eggs for the continuation of the society. In a matured colony of Macrotermes bellicosus, a queen can lay up to 1000 eggs per day. So high is their fertility that some human communities eat the queen as a form of Aphrodisiac. Apart from egg laying, the reproductive pair also coordinates activities of the colony through hormonal and pheromonal communication. A chaotic situation will arise whenever the primary queen is removed. This will lead to a frantic search for a replacement queen(s).
The sociality of termites may be a disadvantage to this highly organized society. For example, feeding of the colony is done by the workers through exchange of food either from mouth to mouth (Stomodeal) or anus to mouth (Proctodeal) feeding. This mode of feeding is being capitalized by pest controllers to systematically eliminate an entire termite colony. Sub lethal stomach poisons and bacteria have been developed and are being applied on to termite colonies by taking advantage of their food exchange mechanisms. This way the poison is quickly spread amongst the termite members, resulting in high scale mortality. However, there have been reported cases of avoidance reaction and sealing off of an infected member from contaminating the rest of the colony. This war is continuing.
Just as human beings had developed an elaborate digestive system, termite families have variously developed different digestive mechanisms to suit their phylogenetic status. For those described as lower termites, digestion is carried out by their haboured protozoan flagellates. Examples can be found in Mastotermes darwiniensis, Kalotermes sp., Cryptotermes spp., Coptotermes spp., Schedorhinotermes spp., Neotermes spp., etc. Others, mainly, the advanced family, the Termitidae, have developed an enzymatic system to aid in food digestion. A slight variation is found in the fungus growers (the Macrotermitinae), e.g. Macrotermes spp., Microtermes spp., where food materials are taken to the cultivated “fungus garden” for processing (digestion). The processed or digested food is then absorbed (eaten) by the termites. This is a unique form of digestion, as it initially took place outside the termite’s gut.
Just as the human population has developed an intrinsic communication system, the termite society has evolved their own communication systems. Although they are blind or eye-less, they communicate the presence of food or disturbances to other nest-mates through chemical pheromones and other tactile stimuli. Responses to disturbances, intrusions, changes, alarm, attack, internal micro-climatic changes, population regulation, etc., are done through hormonal and pheromonal communication. Hence it is not out of place to come up with such terms as recruitment to, or exploratory activities of termites to food or sources of disturbance.
Termites aggregates for a number of reasons which may include such activities like, grooming, collective defense of the colony, repair of damage to their mound, etc.
Therefore, in so far as termites are occupying their rightful place in the scheme of things within the ecological food chain, all terminologies used to describe human activities also applies to them. Who knows, maybe these terminologies even originated from these insects. Remember, they have their own language of communication. Can we decode it? Time will tell.
About the Author
Dr. Bolarinwa Olugbemi, Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Federal Secretariat Complex, P.M.B. 656,Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
