How Urbanization Has Changed Termite Behavior
How Urbanization Has Changed Termite Behavior
Termites have existed for hundreds of millions of years. They have had a lot of time to evolve effective survival strategies. Despite the fact that termites have been benefitting the ecosystem for eons now, humans have a negative view of termites. We humans have never experienced any termite related benefits that we know of, but we do know that they can destroy property and cost us our life savings. But what if humans were the ones to blame for the negative results of termite activity? There are plenty of reasons for thinking that human life has only made termite-related problems worse–indirectly of course.
Everyone is aware that termites eat dead and decaying plant matter. If it was not for termites, dead plant matter would have stacked up for miles by now. Before people lived in houses made from wood, termites could only feed on unused dead wood and plant matter. However, once humans started moving to large cities, termites began to ditch the countryside in favor big city life. This is because food and water sources are more abundant in the city. And as far as a termite is concerned, there is no difference between the dead wood in a tree and the dead wood in a person’s home. Termites found a new source for dead wood in cities with high populations. Once termites migrated to large cities their population numbers increased dramatically. Termites also adapted to life in the city, by creating much larger and more resilient nests. Termite nests found within city areas are much larger in size than nests found in the wild. By creating large cities, humans have given termites a new environment where their survival is more likely. In fact, termites can be found as far north as Canada, whereas wild termites cannot survive in these far-north environments.
Formosan termites have been particularly successful in the city. They have learned to build nests above ground, and not just below. Formosan nests can even be found inside of peoples’ homes. The Formosan termites living in these indoor nests are better adapted to survive long periods without water. Some researchers even believe that Formosan termites evolved into a separate termite species in accordance with urbanization. Termites also survive city life easily by finding shelter below buildings and houses where water and plant matter is easy to come by. Unfortunately, termites are here to stay.
Have you ever found a Formosan termite nest hidden within your household? If you have, then did you notify pest-control services?