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What Is Termites Role in the Ecosystem? Apr. 22nd 2018
Termites Role in the Ecosystem Termite is almost a synonym of the word �pest,' but its importance is such that it cannot be overlooked. Surprisingly, termites have a considerable part to play in maintaining the ecological balance. These highly social insects give way and sustain life in nature.
Termites Role in the Ecosystem
Termite is almost a synonym of the word �pest,' but its importance is such that it cannot be overlooked. Surprisingly, termites have a considerable part to play in maintaining the ecological balance. These highly social insects give way and sustain life in nature.
Termite Infestation
Termites, therefore, are a blind force that must and should require a termite control pro. But how exactly do termites carry out the crucial environmental role?
Green Machines
Termites are �green machines' - they are hands-down nature's best recyclers. They burrow tirelessly and aerate the soil, allowing rainwater to trickle in and enable the mixing of nutrients. This also ensures that the ground stays healthy and fertile. Termites feed on the cellulose found in all kinds of dead plants, and their sticky excretions hold the soil together, preventing soil erosion. They put dead plants back into the soil, and make way for newer ones to grow. Termites also offer themselves (unknowingly and unwillingly) as a source of food for many different kinds of organisms. Termites are eusocial creatures have been around for almost 200 million years, and their disciplined social behavior has ensured their successful survival.Termite Mounds
Termite mounds are perfect centers for altruistic behavior. Termites follow strict labor division and deal with the crisis without panicking. All organisms, complex to simple, approach these recyclers without fail. These age-old insects are thus essential and irreplaceable players in the game of ecosystem balance. Termites and the ecosystem cannot be separated from each other.
Termite Mound (Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org)
A recent study from Princeton University found that termites can prevent the degradation of the soil through their homes. Researchers said that those mounds of dirt built by termites can prevent the soil from drying up.
Researchers said that these large mounds of dirt store moisture and are sources of nourishment for soil and plants around the mounds. These mounds help the soil absorb water quickly through its tunnel. Therefore, plants would tend to grow and thrive around the mounds. The mounds also protect plants and their seeds especially when the rainy season comes.
Like a domino effect, these thriving conditions bring benefits to animals who depend their food on plants. Not only that, the mounds also give shelter to animals and use the structure built by the termites as their hunting hiding place.
"Researchers said that these large mounds of dirt store moisture and are sources of nourishment for soil and plants around the mounds."
-Rest Easy Pest Control
Termite and the City
Termites, at first glance, might seem out-of-place in the city of New York. But the wood in every building attracts termites, who rush to gobble it up. Termites level-up their game, and adapt themselves to thrive in the human-made environments found in most cities. Termites and the ecosystem must go together, even if the latter has started to become mainly artificial. Long Island is the most populated island in any US state. It is, therefore, no surprise that buildings dot every available area. And termites dot every possible space on these structures. Termite infestation is almost expected in every household. �Nasty little buggers' is often on the tongue of every other person. �Termite removal' is quickly followed after this. How then, can termites still be necessary? Where there is an ecosystem, there is the presence of termites. And this presence ensures the longevity of the ecosystem. Long Island, with its splotches of greenery and long coast, requires the help of the expert little recyclers. When human-made and natural environments coexist, termites tend to spill into the former from the latter. Although disastrous for households, termites still play a significant role in the landscape that surrounds human-made structures. Indiscriminate use of chemicals for termite removal may prove catastrophic for the surrounding environment. A respectable distance needs to be maintained between the man-made and natural environment, and termites in houses can be dealt with in a safe and eco-friendly manner.
