Do Termites Actually Eat Wood?
WouterIf you are a home owner or have a business, you have probably heard of termites. They are small, wingless creatures that are found in forested areas. They feed on anything with cellulose. This includes wood, paper, cotton, and plant byproducts.
They are also attracted to firewood and stumps. They can enter a structure through a hole that they drill in the wooden structure.
They have specialized digestive systems that allow them to break down cellulose. This is important to termites as it is the material they use to build their nests.
There are two types of termites: subterranean and drywood. Subterranean termites infest forested areas and trees, while drywood termites are found in more rural and residential areas. They are both destructive and difficult to remove.
Generally speaking, subterranean termites prefer to live in damp, moist soil, while drywood termites are more likely to infest wood against grain. In addition, subterranean termites often form large colonies that can grow to hundreds of thousands of members.
The main reason that termites eat wood is to extract cellulose. This is the substance that is used to make up the cell walls of plants and other natural materials. It is also an essential component of grass, cotton, and other materials that humans use.
While termites do not actually digest the wood, they do eat it. They get their cellulose by breaking down the lignin that forms the wall of the lignocellulose, a compound that is the key ingredient in the cell walls of plants and other natural materials.
