What Do Termites Eat and How Do They Get Their Nutrients?
WouterWhen it comes to deciding whether or not to get a termite control treatment, you have a lot to consider. Depending on the species you have, they can be harmless or destructive. But before you can make an informed decision, you must first understand what they eat and how they get their nutrients.
Termites primarily eat wood. While some species prefer to eat damp wood, they will also eat dry wood, as long as it contains cellulose. This means they will eat dead or live trees, as well as stumps and plant-based materials.
Termites are attracted to decaying or damp wood. They can enter a structure through gaps in drywall, plastics, paper and cardboard.
They can even eat through foam, if the material contains cellulose. But not all types of termites are capable of digesting cellulose.
When they eat cellulose, they use bacteria and protozoa to break it down into energy. They do this by generating an enzyme, which they then introduce into their digestive system. This process helps the termite convert starch into sugar.
Several different kinds of protists exist in the termite gut. These symbiotic microbes help the termites to digest the cellulose. They also release nutrients into the termite’s body.
Unlike most other pests, termites are able to digest cellulose, a sugar molecule. They can do this because of the presence of a special biome in their gut. They also rely on a few dozen species of protists to help them with this task.
