The life of a scientist requires mastering all sorts of unusual skills. For my doctoral project I learned how to handle piglets. Their intelligence and cheeky playfulness made them both a joy and a challenge. But it was the termite, the subject of my postdoctoral work, that provided insights into the challenges of working in the field.

Known as the world's smallest bioreactors, termites harbour a fascinating metabolic powerhouse of microbes in their guts. Although we can breed some termite species in the lab, every now and then we have to become termite hunters in order to replenish our supplies. Luckily for us, their habitats include many prime vacation spots such as southern France, Australia and the United States. Life is pretty good for a termite hunter.

During a recent conference we went on a termite search. We drove deep into the forest outside Seattle, armed with an axe and a large dose of enthusiasm. After searching all day to no avail, we finally struck gold when an eagle-eyed PhD student found a termite-filled log. With our precious termite cargo we set our sights for home.

It was only then that we realized how far into the forest we had gone. The roads were numbered incorrectly and our map was wildly inaccurate. With the sun setting, we drove onwards, the dirt road becoming narrower and more dilapidated, and the forest becoming darker. I wondered if we would make it back in time for our poster presentations the next day. How many microbial ecologists does it take to navigate their way out of a forest? We found out — at least four (and a bit of luck).

Tracking termites gave me a new-found respect for scientists who routinely work out in the field, a vastly more unpredictable enterprise than being at the bench. Back in the lab, we have complete control; we can order the chemicals we need, whenever we need them. But sometimes we must venture out of our comfort zone and into termite territory. The hundreds of termites that inhabit our lab represent a lot of effort and dedication. It's something I'll keep in mind the next time I am extracting their guts.