Will They Eat It?
WouterTermites eat cellulose, a chemical compound found in all types of plants and wood. Termites are a cold-blooded insect that lives in moist environments. They can eat anything containing cellulose.
When they aren’t eating, termites are silent destroyers. They will chew through all kinds of building materials. They will even tear up books. In fact, one YouTube video shows how termites destroyed a book by stripping it of its contents.
The “Will They Eat It?” series, sponsored by the National Pest Management Association, attempts to answer that question. It has been found that termites consume more than $5 billion worth of property in the United States every year.
When you consider the amount of wood that termites eat, it’s surprising. They have the capability to eat up to four times more than a human could.
They have a number of microorganisms living in their guts, which help them break down the cellulose found in wood. These microbes also help them to extract more nutrients from the wood.
Despite their ability to eat cellulose, termites don’t actually carry any dangerous diseases. They can be found anywhere that ground doesn’t freeze solid in the winter. They do, however, bite and sting. In the wild, termites are not dangerous, but they can be destructive to your property.
In the United States, most termites are nocturnal. They do not make much noise, but they do have strong mandibles. They also have two sets of wings. They can grow up to half an inch long.
