5 Crazy Things You Didn’t Know About Termites
The mention of termites strikes fear into the heart of every homeowner. The productive little bugs are responsible for billions of dollars in property damage every year just in the U.S. However, there’s more to termites than you think. Here are five strange and interesting facts about termites your home inspector probably didn’t share.
1. They Make Great Snacks
Termites are a delicacy in some parts. In Singapore, termite queens are eaten as a treat. Macu Indians use termites for food when their crops perform poorly. In other parts of the world, they’re served live or preserved in rice wine or other alcohol.
2. Amazonian Cultures Take Them Very Seriously
In one culture, people believe that finding a termite colony under your house means you’ll soon die. You must eliminate the bugs quickly, or abandon your home to survive. Another Amazon culture uses a soup made from boiled termites to treat whooping cough. Some also believe that burning a termite nest and inhaling the smoke will cure the flu.
3. Their Eating Habits Help the Environment
In the wild, termites help recycle dead and decaying wood and other cellulose materials; this aerates and fertilizes the soil and plays an important part in the health of our forests.
4. Their Farting Habits Hurt the Environment
Every termite emits flatulence that contains methane gas. Termite farts are responsible for about 20 million tons of methane being released into the atmosphere every year. That is roughly 4% of all methane emissions in the world!
5. Your House Is Dinner: What’s for Dessert?
Because they don’t have the gut bacteria necessary for digesting all the trees and homes they eat, termites eat their nest mates’ feces to supply the needed microorganisms to their digestive tracts. Don’t judge them too harshly; they also maintain very strict hygiene practices and groom each other regularly.
Burns Pest Elimination Tackles Phoenix and Tucson Termites
Termite trivia is amusing, but there’s nothing funny about having them destroy your property. Burns Pest Elimination takes a comprehensive approach to eliminating termites, including liquid termiticides, in-ground monitors, and bait stations. With our pest control experts on your side, your home or business won’t become a lunch buffet. Contact us today for an inspection!
