What Termites Eat the Most Wood
WouterTermites have the ability to eat wood. It is a speciality of the creature. While it is not a requirement for their survival, termites prefer to eat wood because it is a source of energy and nutrients. They also use it for nest construction and for tunnels that connect their nest to food sources and water.
Depending on the species and size of the colony, termites can eat hundreds of pounds of wood a year. The size of the colony, the climate and the type of wood all play a role in the rate at which they eat.
Termites can eat wood both alive and dead. They will gnaw on it to obtain the cellulose that is found in wood. The protozoa that live in the gut of the termite help them digest the cellulose.
They produce an enzyme that helps break down cellulose. Eventually, the cellulose is converted into acetate, which gives termites energy.
Termites may also eat organic mulch or dead leaves. Several studies have shown that a colony of 60,000 termites can consume the same amount of wood as a single 2×4 beam over five months.
Depending on the type of wood and the moisture level of the environment, termites will eat wood at a variety of rates. The faster and larger the colony is, the more it can eat. But if the colony is inactive, the rate of consumption will be low.
In warmer climates, termites swarm at the beginning of spring and feed continuously throughout the summer and fall. In cooler climates, they are less active. This means that their consumption of wood will be lower.
