what type of wood do termites eat

The amount of wood a single colony destroys principally depends on the type of termite, the type and condition of wood, and what has been done to treat the wood. Will termites eat pressure treated wood? Teak. The part of the wood that termites feed on is called cellulose—the organic component within wood and other types of plants that makes them so strong. It doesn’t matter if it is softwood or hardwood, pine, or oak. Interestingly, these termites are not picky food-eaters and usually eat decayed wood, fallen trees, and stumps. How Do Termites Eat Pressure Treated Wood? Although termites tend to eat any type of wood, yet each termite species has an interest or preference on specific types of woods. How the Termite Diet Affects Homeowners This wood is extremely durable and is known to weather well. Therefore, homes are vulnerable to damage caused by termite feeding. Not only do termites eat wood, but many species of the insect live in it, too. This exotic wood is known for being pricey, but there’s a good reason. Also, some if its galleries consist of fecal particles and dirt. Moreover, the wood consumed by these termites look like honeycombs. Do termites eat redwood and other termite-proof wood? It is a great misconception that lumber of Redwood or Mahagony, Acacia, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Pine, Teakwood and Cedar are not on the termite’s diet. Wood is ideal for their food, and soil is a great source of liquid for them. If there is a great choice, the wood pests will feed on sapwood and even termite proof hardwood only after all the others. However, they do have quite a peculiar feeding system. Those types tested were redwood, birch, spruce, southern yellow pine, red oak, Brazilian jatoba, Peruvian walnut, Honduran mahogany, teak and Alaskan yellow cedar. Below are the different types of wood do the common termite species in Indonesia eat, including: Subterranean termites; Drywood termites; Dampwood termites During the tests, Formosan termites were given no choice but to consume just one variety of wood for six weeks. There are certain types of wood that they’ll avoid if they have any choice in the matter, there are others that they can’t eat at all, and still more that are even toxic to them. Dampwood termites will mostly eat through moist wood-like decaying logs, stumps and wood piles – they do … Termites can eat a wide range of wood products—but they can’t devour all of them. Drywood termites like to eat dry wood like your hardwood floors, furniture, frames, and structural timbers – they do not like to live in the soil. Wood of course; but termites will eat it in any form—be it paper, books, or wood that has decayed. Certain factors make wood even more desirable to termites: high moisture content, softness, the presence of fungus or decay, and the absence of natural chemicals, resins, or oils that make wood resistant to decay and insects. They follow a shared feeding system called “ trophallax ” which involves a give-and-take process between colony members. Generally, termites live in trees, lumber, soil, and wooden structures. Where Termites Find Wood. Well, pressure-treated wood is not completely termite-proof, even though termites don’t damage them the way they do with untreated wood. Such wood types are available in a wide range of sizes. Every year, termites cause about $40 billion in damage globally and destroy parts of more than 600,000 homes in the United States alone. Subterranean termites will happily feed on any of the common woods used for structural lumber in homes. Find out which woods are most resistant to termites below: 1. These termites tend to eat the soft filaments of Springwood, and they leave the tougher summerwood behind. What Do Subterranean Termites Eat? These items contain cellulose, which is transformed into nutrients that the termites need. What do termites eat? This makes finding food sources easier for the pests. What Type Of Wood Do Termites Eat? , or oak good reason logs, stumps and wood piles – they do have quite a peculiar system... Soil is a great choice, the wood pests will feed on any of the insect live trees. Will feed on any of the common woods used for structural lumber in homes and known... Given no choice but to consume just one variety of wood, but many species of the live. With untreated wood t matter if it is softwood or hardwood, pine, oak. Follow a shared feeding system and wooden structures tend to eat the soft filaments of,! Wood-Like decaying logs, stumps and wood piles – they do with wood. 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