Which materials provide cellulose for termites to eat?

Termites obtain the cellulose necessary for their survival from a variety of materials of vegetative origin. Primary sources include wood—whether sound or partly decayed—as well as grass, leaves, and straw. Additionally, termites consume humus, the manure of herbivorous animals, and processed plant-based materials such as paper, cardboard, and cotton.1

Because termites rely on cellulose as their main food source, they are often considered significant pests when they consume wooden structures or valuable vegetable matter. In pest control, specialized cellulose-based baits are sometimes used to manage termite populations by delivering substances that disrupt the insects' development.2

The digestion of this cellulose is facilitated by symbiotic protozoans in the hindgut of lower termites, or by bacteria and specific enzymes in higher termites, which break the complex carbohydrate down into simple sugars and acetic acid.1