Termites eat cellulose, a biological compound in wood, among other materials, and cause property damage in their quest for food. Learn more about what the destructive insects consume to inform your termite control efforts.

Favorite Termite Foods

Termites’ digestive systems contain protozoa and bacteria that break down cellulose fibers. They eat a wide variety of wood products, including furniture, structural support beams in buildings, landscaping mulch, and decaying wood. They also consume cellulose in cardboard, plants, sheetrock paper, insulation, fabric, and animal waste. Humus, or decayed animal and plant matter in soil, provides sustenance as well.

How to Avoid Feeding Termites

Effective termite control requires eliminating food sources. While this doesn’t mean tearing out the wooden support structures in your home, it does mean keeping wooden structures a minimum of 20 feet away from your residence and ensuring wooden siding is at least six inches from the ground. Wood in contact with soil attracts subterranean termites.

Other termite control tips include replacing wood chip mulch with rubber or stone varieties and removing as much cellulose material from your property as possible.

You’ll also need to eliminate water sources, as termites and many other pests are attracted to moisture. If you have pooling water around your home’s foundation, for example, you’re inviting termites in. Seal foundation gaps and holes, and schedule annual inspections with an exterminator to detect any signs of infestation. 

Work with Aloha Termite & Pest Control in Wahiawa, HI, to keep the cellulose-loving insects at bay. Specializing in termite control and other pest management solutions, these fully licensed exterminators offer fumigation services with five-year warranties. Call (808) 622-2268 today for a free inspection, or visit the exterminators online for more information on termite control. You can also find the latest reviews on Yelp.