Are Termites Only Interested In Dead Wood?
Are Termites Only Interested In Dead Wood?
Everybody knows that termites eat away at wood, but are they only interested in dead wood? It seems like termites are only interested in the wood that people’s homes are made of, or other forms of dead wood. Although we do not hear about termite infested trees as much as termite infested houses, trees are also targeted by termites for their cellulose. However, termites will only infest dead trees, as they are not interested in living trees. Sometimes infestations can be found within live trees, but this is rare and depends on certain conditions. Termites will also avoid feeding on smaller types of living plant life, which is good since dead and decaying plant life needs to be removed from the ground to allow for the continued growth of plants. This is why the termites that are located within North America can cause substantial damage to timber framed homes, despite not being crop pests.
Luckily, termites that thrive in North America do not feed on living cellulose. In rare cases when termites are found infesting trees that seem to be living, the cambium layer or pith of a tree has died. Sometimes it can be difficult to locate areas on a tree that have been damaged by termites. However, if you are familiar with some of the common signs of termite activity, then spotting tree infestations is easy. Termite infested trees show signs of penetration. Termites carve tiny holes into trees so that they can access the cellulose located within. These holes are found at the very bottom of tree trunks. The ground beneath these holes will often be littered with wood shavings. The presence of wood shavings indicate that termites have recently carved their access points into the base of a tree. Some termite infested trees may even have shelter tubes built around the trunks. These tubes are built by subterranean termites that travel back and forth between the cellulose in a tree and the water in the soil. Even termite eggs can sometimes be observed within various crevices on the bottom of tree trunks. Termites also build what are called “swarm castles” into the scars of tree trunks. If you notice any of these signs of termite activity on the trees that are located within your property, then locate a pest control professional to inspect your property. Termite infested trees can easily fall over resulting in damage to your home or an injury to a person or a pet.
Have you ever noticed any signs of past or present termite activity in a tree before?