The reason WHY they need the mounds is pretty compelling. The ground temperatures and moisture wouldn't support the eggs for 10 months plus. Look at the climate in and around Sydney, particuarly the winters. Now imagine there's a natural mound of earth that retains humidity and that magical 30°C (86°F) plus repairs and protects the eggs within. Think those eggs buried in the ground and passing through winter would make it without the termitaria? Anyone with experience hatching Monitor eggs can put 2 and 2 together. They're allowed to exist so far south, as are Heath Monitors, because of the use of the termitaria and long incubation times required.

I've asked about the more northern QUSLD animals (Lace) nesting and the consensus is that nobody sees them regularly enough to 'know' what they nest in up there. But in and around the more heavily human-settled Sydney area, people see these animals and what they're doing regularly and have reported it plenty of times. They're laying in the mounds - I'm convinced.

In captivity, you could heat the ground of the cage up to 86°F and the Lace would very likely use the ground, or a box, or whatever. But stick them outdoors in the cold USA winter months and the ground is unsuitable to nest in without added heating measures. So the animals are likely retaining the eggs and having egg complications due to poor nesting options. From a 3rd party perspective, it sounds that simple to me....

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