How Do Termites Eat the Wood in Your Home?

Termites will eat any wood that has cellulose, which is an organic compound found in plants and other plant-based materials. They will also eat paper, cardboard, magazines, cotton fibers in cloth, and other products that have cellulose.

Termites are silent destroyers, and can cause significant damage to your home. They can gnaw their way through drywall, carpet, and wooden decking. They can also chew through plastic coating on wires.

A termite colony can contain tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of members. They include female reproductives, male reproductives, nymphs, and workers. Each termite colony shares food and grooms each other. A termite colony can grow enormously fast. If there is no female reproductive, the colony will die.

To help the colony survive, the termites eat cellulose. The digestive system of a termite uses enzymes to break down the cellulose into simple sugars. These enzymes are produced by the protozoa in the termite’s gut. The protozoa are the organisms that give termites the ability to eat wood.

Some of the types of wood that are least susceptible to termite attacks are bamboo, cedar, redwood, and softwoods. Some termites prefer damp, soft wood, while others like to eat if it is decaying.

In order to prevent a termite infestation, you should make sure that all areas of your home are free of standing water and that there is a barrier around your home. If you suspect a termite problem, you should hire a professional to inspect your home and treat the area.

Continue reading:

Using Injection Foams and Bait Stations For Termite Control Can Termites Trigger Asthma? Termites – Destructive Insects That Can Ruin a Garden Can Termites Reproduce Without a Queen? What Can Termites Not Eat Through? How Termites Can Live in Clothes Can You Just Spray For Termites? How Termites Eat Wood, But You Can Prevent Them From Infesting Your Home With Pressure-Treated Lumber