15 Surprising Things Termites Eat (And Don’t Eat)

What Wood Will A Termite Eat?

Okay, so termites are really only in search of cellulose, which is found primarily in wood.

But is all wood created equal to termites? Keep reading to find out.

Will Termites Eat Cedar?

Cedar is a type of wood that issomewhat naturally resistant to termites.

These pests will stay away from cedar at first, however, this won't always be the case. Over time, the wood will begin to break down and the resinousdecay will be attractive to termites.

Read Also:What're the best treatments for termites?

Will Termites Eat Bamboo?

In the wild, redwood acts as treated wood does in warding off worker termites seeking food for the colony. However, as time wears on, the wood gets worn out. Its resin seeps into the ground, luring termites to feast.

Do Termites Eat Building Supplies?

If you're in the process of building a home, shed, garage, or any other structure, you're going to want to use the right materials upfront.

To prevent termite infestation, read below about how likely termites are to chow down on your different supplies.

Will Termites Eat新闻ure Treated Lumber?

The answer to this is a solid no.

新闻ure treatment of lumber with chemicals is the number-one step takenagainsttermites. The wood is packed with a preserving agent to stop decay as well as fill the wood with a chemical compound which acts as a blockade against termites. Normally, this is thewood that makes direct contact with the ground, so that when termites encounter the lumber, they'll pass it right by.

Will Termites Eat Plywood?

This answer depends on whether the plywood has been pressure-treated or not.

Plywood is composed of several cuts of wood glued together, which contains cellulose. Normally, termites will find this cellulose in plywood, so they'll eat it. However, with a pressure treatment, the termites will no longer be able to sniff out their favorite food.

Will Termites Eat OSB?

Oriented strand board (OSB) is made of wood, but it is cement-bonded for extra durability. For this reason, termitesaren't likely to eat it.

The presence of the cement works to deter termites from the cellulose in the wood chips which make up the board, but also prevents decay. These two factors significantly decrease the likelihood that termites will eat OSB.

Will Termites Eat Sheetrock?

The paper which lines the front of a sheetrock wall is comprised of cellulose, so it's a nice appetizer for termites. While they don't like to eat the actual sheetrock itself, they'll begin to eat the outer layer and search inside for more cellulose.

Also, the walls behind the sheetrock layer in a home or a garage are primarily made of wood, so it's not unlikely that a termite will keep journeying straight through the sheetrock to find even more cellulose.

Will Termites Eat Particle Board?

Because particle board is made up of several different types of wood (chips, sawdust, waste materials), termites LOVE to eat particle board.

Another major attractant of termites to particle board is its ability to swell with moisture. Becausesome termites love dampened wood, wet particle board is like serving termites their favorite food on a silver platter.

Each kind of wood has cellulose, which will always be what a colony of termites is after. However, some poplar wood may be stronger at protecting against termites if made from certain naturally-resistant trees like cypress, redwood, and cedar.