Wood Eating by Termites
Termites have been on the planet for millions of years, and many species specialize in eating wood. They can cause irreparable damage to properties by eating wood foundations, structural supports and many other crucial parts of buildings. Termites are social insects raised in large groups--sometimes in excess of 2 million individuals. The total weight of all termites on the planet exceeds the total weight of all humans. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
How They Do It
-
By feeding on wood, termites have dominated a niche in the ecological world. With little competition for their food source, they have been able to grow in massive numbers and develop specialized feeding mechanisms.
Termites have hard, saw-toothed, scissor-like jaws that bite off extremely small fragments of wood one piece at a time. Microorganisms called protozoa in their intestines then provide the enzymes necessary to digest the cellulose in the wood.
Types of Termites
-
Many species of termites exist, and not all of them feed exclusively on wood. While some do, indeed, specialize in this tough material, many species are after cellulose in whatever form that may come--be it wallpaper, plastics or fabrics made from plants, timber building foundations or dead trees. Dampwood and drywood termites specialize in precisely those types of wood. Other termite species include formosan and subterranean.
-
Damage
-
Termites can cause $5 billion every year in out-of-pocket expenses for property owners in the U.S. Colonies eat 24 hours a day, every day. While it can take 3 to 8 years for certain termites to cause appreciable damage, extensive damage is irreversible, requiring rebuilds and remodeling.
Drywood termites build nests and tunnels in buildings, which can compromise structural supports. Formosans are the largest and one of the most destructive species, living in enormous underground colonies 300 feet long and building mud nests inside building and boat walls. Subterranean termites are considered the most destructive, with over 2 million individuals in each colony. Subterraneans are known to eat everything from wooden building foundations and support beams, to plastic plumbing pipes, to insulation to swimming pool liners.
Positive Impact
-
Termites can have a positive impact on the environments they inhabit. If termites inhabit and eat dead trees and other dead cellulose matter, it's a service to the ecological system. They also provide food for insect-eating animals, such as certain birds, amphibians and primates.
Control and Prevention
-
Certain environments attract termites. Any type of wood, paper or other cellulose-containing material outside of a structure will attract the insects, as will moist areas, particularly for dampwood termites that only feed on damp wood.
Physical and chemical barriers have been used successfully to prevent termite infestations, according to the University of Hawaii, including stainless steel mesh screens, basaltic rock barriers and insecticidal treatments. Termite bates and insecticides are also used for existing populations. Bates poison termites entering the trap, who then carry the chemicals back to the colony; insecticides function similarly.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit branches image by Sean Gladwell from Fotolia.com
