Termites’ Eating Habits

Termites have always been known to have a rather an apparent preference in eating up wood, and any other wood structure for that matter. However, it might be surprising to note that the termites’ eating habits are not just entirely limited on wood alone. In fact, there are other termites that do not feed on wood, but favor grasses and other matters that can be found in the ground. The main attraction that dictates the termites’ eating habits is the presence of cellulose, and more often than not termites find them in sapwoods, logs, and stumps and unfortunately in wooden structures that are constructed by human beings. The termites avoid eating the heartwood or the innermost part of the wood. This is not just because the core tends to be harder but more importantly due to the fact that it has toxins that repel termites.

Termites are much similar to bees and ants in the sense that they also have a caste system where there is a king, a queen, soldiers, reproductive and the worker termites. The once that is mostly guilty for eating up the wood in your homes is the worker termites, and carries most of the woods to back to the nest. That means, they are literally see your home as a big chunk of meal!  There are busy creatures and work nonstop, hoarding out materials from your house back to their nests. Another highly evident fact in the termites’ eating habits is its constant need for water that is why they visit the soil after several hours or so.

As mentioned earlier, termites do not solely feed on wood alone, they eat anything that contains cellulose. So do not be surprised if one day you will find your books, carpets flooring window trims are already infested with termites. So if one of your neighbors have termites, then it can be quite possible than in several months that whole neighbor will be infested as well. This is another cunning character in the termites’ eating habits, they are able to fly in swarm in search for food and build a new colony to wreck havoc to your precious abode.

It is certainly a scary thought, but unfortunately a very real threat. That is why termites should not just be taken lightly because they may seem too insignificant to bother with. The next thing you’ll know it the pesky little critters have practically torn your house apart and force you to spend thousand of dollars for damage control and repair for your house. So if you ever come across with termites in any part of your home, make sure to take some measures to treat the infestation before it actually goes out of hand.