We often find people who are surprised by the fact that termites can and do eat hardwood timbers.

Termites are known for their ability to devour wood and cause damage to structures made of wood, including homes, furniture, and other wooden objects. While termites are infamous for their destruction, their ability to eat hardwood timber is a fascinating subject.

Firstly, it is important to understand that termites have a specific diet, and wood is a primary food source. While there are many species of termites, most of them consume wood as their primary source of nutrients. Termites are particularly attracted to hardwood timber. Hardwood timber is denser and more difficult to digest than softwood, which makes it a particularly challenging food source.

Termites are social insects that live in colonies, and each colony consists of different castes, including workers, soldiers, and reproductive individuals. The worker termites are responsible for gathering food, including wood, and bringing it back to the colony. Once the wood is inside the colony, it is broken down by a combination of mechanical and chemical processes.

The mechanical process involves the worker termites chewing the wood and breaking it down into smaller particles. The workers have powerful mandibles that they use to grind the wood into a pulp-like substance. Once the wood has been chewed, it is mixed with saliva and regurgitated back into the colony.

The chemical process involves enzymes produced by the termite’s gut bacteria. These enzymes are specifically designed to break down the cellulose and lignin in the wood. Cellulose is a complex carbohydrate that is found in the cell walls of plants, while lignin is a complex polymer that gives wood its rigidity and strength. The enzymes produced by the termite’s gut bacteria are able to break down these complex compounds into simpler compounds that can be absorbed by the termite’s digestive system.

One of the key factors that allows termites to digest hardwood timber is the presence of symbiotic gut bacteria. Termites have a special chamber in their digestive system called the hindgut, which is home to a complex ecosystem of microorganisms. These microorganisms are essential for breaking down the wood fibres and extracting the nutrients that the termites need. The symbiotic relationship between the termites and their gut bacteria is so strong that the bacteria are passed down from generation to generation.

So, when someone says “termites don’t eat hardwood” you can direct them to this article and the video attached.