What Do Termites Eat?

Yes, termites are pests that one wouldn’t want to have.  Not only do these pose as nuisance to one, they also bring about damages to one’s house and other structures – prompting one to spend some amount of money for treatment and repair.  It wouldn’t be that fun an idea knowing you have termites under the same roof with you. 

One may wonder: What do termites eat? What are its preferences of food? What more can be learned about these pests’ eating patterns? And why do they eat the way they do?

Termites are fond of places that have sufficient moisture and that are able to provide them with just the right atmosphere for their survival and propagation. They also need a place for their protection not only from their predators - but also from the forces of nature themselves.  A place where it will be cooler during hot days, and warmer on cold days are ideal for termites – and the soil with good moisture content seems to give them the right stuff for such purpose.  Termites are very critical with the extreme climate conditions they are subjected to – they have little tolerances for such, so to say.

What do termites eat? These termites eat cellulose.  Materials that have cellulose as wood, paper, books and mulch are eaten by termites.  Cottons and other plant fibers are eaten by termites as well.  In a man-made environment, termites may chew on a variety of other materials aside from the usual cellulose-rich ones – they seem to try out anything in front of them, if not for food – for mere destruction of anything on its way.  Carpets, drywall, furniture, window frames, flooring and many more are not exempted by the seemingly chewing urges of these termites.

What do termites eat, and how do they process the food in their system? Other wood products are also eaten by termites. They have digestive tracts that contain microorganisms, which help them convert the cellulose they have eaten to nutrients for their well-being.  Particularly these protozoans – the single-celled organisms that live in their gut - are fed with what termites eat, at the same time it breaks down the cellulose into nutrients that can be absorbed by the termites. 

What do termites eat, and what are their preferences? Aside from paper, decayed wood is also a favorite by termites.  These are easily digested by them, and the fungi that is present on decayed wood is able to provide them with the needed nitrogen levels in their system.

What do termites eat, and how do they mark a found food source?

When one worker finds a food source, it leaves a scent trail for other workers to be able to find it as well and use it to feed their colony.  These workers stay true to their responsibility of providing for food to the other colony members.  Definitely, termites seem to have no problem on what to eat – and what to chew for that matter.