Termites are a major pest worldwide and can cause billions of dollars in damage each year. Worker termites constantly struggle to survive, and many predators feed on them as part of their diet.
The good news is that there are predators of termites that we can attract to our property to keep their population in check. So, what interesting animals eat termites? Invasive termites are a common problem in homes, as they can quickly and easily infest the property. Once they have infested a home, it isn’t easy to get rid of them.
Hence, continue reading to find out more about predators of termite to get rid of them.
What interesting animals eat termites? Information of Preys of Termite in Home and Other Living Bases
Dwarf Mongoose
The dwarf mongoose is a small, weasel-like creature found in Africa. They typically grow to be 7 to 10 inches long and live in groups of up to 20. They always use some termite mounds for the food and space needed.
Their favorite food is dead termite sites. But the fact is they will also eat some other insects, lizards, and rodents.
Moles
Moles are creatures that live in the ground and eat termites. They are shy and mostly stay underground, but when they come across a termite, they will eat it.
Termites forage for food, and when they find a mole, they won’t go home because they think the mole is just another creature looking for food.
Dragonflies
Dragonflies are interesting animals that eat termites. They can be seen in their alate or aerial reproduction phase when they are most noticeable. They feed on termites from midair, and their larvae reside in high-quality, fast-flowing water streams.
Dragonflies live in fast-flowing water streams, where they get their name.
Birds
Termites are a protein-rich source for many different types of birds. These feathered animals are terrific at controlling termite infestation and can often be found near termite mounds.
Some species of birds, such as the weaver bird, move into uninhabited structures as a safety measure for carrying their young.
They can find the narrow entryways where the termites live and build their nests inside. The nest is typically built in a narrow opening, making it harder for predators to get to them.
Anteater
The anteater is a mammal that does not have teeth. Instead, it has a long and sticky tongue which it uses to eat 30,000 termites and ants daily. It also has strong jaws for digging a hole into the mound of termites and catching as many termites as possible.
Armadillo
Armadillos are interesting animals with low metabolic rates and a diet consisting mostly of worms, grubs, and beetles. They are especially fond of ants and termites, which comprise a significant portion of their diet.
Reptiles and Amphibians
There are a variety of animals that feed on termites. Some of these include reptiles and amphibians, such as skinks, agamid lizards, giant monitor lizards, legless lizards, and the worm snake and frogs.
Mammals
There are a variety of animals that eat termites. These include mammals such as civets, genets, bats, mongooses, numbats, echidnas, anteaters, and aardvarks. Animals destroy termites with their hands or toes.
Nematodes
Nematodes are microscopic organisms that kill termites from the inside out. They are used in soil termite control programs to counter termites.
Spiders
Spiders are predators that build webs to catch insects. In the absence of insects, the spider leaves the nest for food.
When the spider comes in contact with termites, it will paralyze them and drag them back to its web. Spiders can help reduce the termite population by preying on them.
Ants
Termites are a popular food choice for ants. Ants will eat termites to eliminate the competition for food and access the termite’s protein-rich diet.
Queen and worker ants feed on the carcass left by the larvae, eggs, and other body regions. The soft inner parts of dead termite bodies are eaten by both carpenter ants and the queen (workers).
Oogpister Beetle
The oogpister beetle is a predator that preys exclusively on ants and termites. Its powerful jaw allows it to gobble up the best termites quickly and easily. Additionally, its leg can kick away any termites trying to ward it off, ensuring it gets its meal.
The beetle extracts acids from the termites to weaken their exoskeletons and then sprays them with its abdomen to kill them.
Humpback flies
Humpback flies are a type of fly that is similar to fruit flies, except they have a prominent hump on their abdomen. They are biological agents of control and feed on termites and other big insects.
Praying Mantis
Termites are usually safe from predation as they live in heavily guarded colonies. However, the praying mantis can camouflage itself as part of the vegetation around it and then attack its prey.
The praying mantis can only attack outside a termite colony and will not enter one under any circumstances.
What do flying termites eat?
Flying termites do not eat while they have wings. They can fly long distances to find new colonies and will eat wood or use wood in nests. Flying termites are not insects- they are called flying termites because of their wings.
What eats termites?
Termites are a popular food source for many different animals. Some predators, such as birds, will eat them during flight. Other bird species will follow the swarm to the ground and consume them there.
Termites are also easy prey for other animals, such as raccoons and snakes, because they are not typically aggressive when defending their nests.
Interestingly, termites are also consumed as a food source in some countries. Indigenous people living in Africa and Australia have been known to eat them. Additionally, the cellulose inside termite mounds can be burned for heat, making them an important resource in colder climates.
Do ants eat termites?
Termites make a great meal for ants due to their high protein content. Ants eat termites as a way to reduce competition and have an easy source of food. Termites are also a good source of protein for ants.
Do lizards eat termites?
Lizards are carnivorous and eat mostly small insects. They typically go for flies, mosquitoes, winged termites, and crickets. Some larger lizards have been known to eat small rodents or snakes.
Do woodpeckers eat termites?
Woodpeckers are omnivorous animals and will eat a variety of different things. They love to eat bugs, including ants, termites, beetles, spiders, and more. If they cannot find bugs to eat, they will snack on small rodents, lizards, fruit, or nuts.
Do spiders eat termites?
There are a variety of animals that eat termites. Spiders catch and eat flying termites in their webs. Assassin bugs break into termite mounds and inject them with the toxin. Some assassin bugs are slow enough to be able to grab the termites before they escape.
Do termites eat human food?
Termites don’t eat human food and are not a threat to humans.
Do ants kill termites?
There are a variety of animals that eat termites, both predators and parasites. Ants are one of the most common predators of termites. They raid termite nests and take them back to their nests to feed their larvae. The larvae break down the termites, and the ants can consume them.
Do birds eat termites?
Termites are a popular food source for many different types of animals. Some birds, including alates, consume termites while in flight. Other bird species follow them to the ground and feast on the termites there. Alates can land in large numbers and find a ready supply of food.
Conclusion
Termites are a major pest and can be difficult to control. Many predators feed on them, including ants, beetles, and birds. In conclusion, there are a variety of predators that feast on termites. Ants are the most dangerous among them as they can quickly and effectively swarm their prey. However, other creatures such as birds and reptiles also enjoy a good termite meal.