In the diet of all termites is cellulose, so most often from the attack of insects suffer from trees and just wood. Surprisingly, termites easily digest difficult-to-digest products, because small bacteria-symbionts, which live in the body of working individuals, help insects to digest them.
The latter are responsible for feeding the entire termite, feeding special secretions and larvae, and soldiers whose mandibles are not adapted for self-feeding. But do not think that only wood is part of the termite diet. In the course of everything goes: the decomposing remains of animals, all kinds of plants and even mold fungi are the main food of young larvae, which termites themselves and plant, planting entire plantations on pre-fertilized soil.
Undoubtedly, for humans, termites are dangerous because of their addiction to wood. Also termites will not pass by fabrics or paper, which, naturally, does not add to them the charm in the eyes of the affected people. But do not forget that the omnivorous termites are beneficial to the formation of a fertile soil layer.
Carefully processed wood residues can increase yields in regions with dry and hot climates. So, for example, according to the research of Australian scientists, termites increase the yield of wheat by 40%.
The bites of termites are extremely painful and cause unremitting itching and swelling of the tissues. In addition, people are allergic, ranging from mild to very severe with a possible fatal outcome, the cause of which is pulmonary edema. Also, bites in the throat during breathing, severe dizziness, abdominal pain, shock and loss of consciousness can become symptoms of a bite.
