A Bad Reputation: Termites Share Their Good Side

Aug. 25, 2008 1:25 p.m.

There are many species of termites that occur naturally in the U.S., but only a small number are pests in houses and other structures. So, what are the rest of the termites doing if they are not thinking of ways to get into your house and chew on some timbers? Well, mostly good things.

Termites are one of only a few animals that can feed on cellulose (wood); they can use it as a food source. Cellulose is a strong and stable material that is naturally resistant to decay. But in natural habitats, it’s necessary to break down dead trees and other woody material and return nutrients to the soil. Termites do that with the help of some special microbes in their gut. The value or benefit of termites is most evident in the tropics where there are extensive forests and the soil can be shallow. Termites are busy there converting dead trees into useful soil.

Animals looking for a high protein meal do not overlook the termite colonies. The typical colony is large (thousands of workers and soldiers in the nest) and not difficult to find. Several animals, including chimpanzees, birds and ants will break into colonies to get a meal. For most of these animals, termites are not their main food source, but they can be an excellent source of proteins and fat. Humans have also figured out the food value of termites. Several cultures have recipes for cooking and eating termites. Yum.

Another way to look at termites is their position in the food chain in habitats that have a lot of trees and woody plants. In these habitats, termites may be the primary “reducers” of wood cellulose into usable by-products. Otherwise, forests would be littered with dead trees.

Reference: Urban Entomology: Insect and Mite Pests in the Human Environment. 1996. Wm. H. Robinson. Chapman & Hall, London, U.K.