Nymphoids are the main source of reproduction in our resident Reticulitermes flavipes . Termite Ecology . Termites feed on dead, plant cell wall material, such as wood, leaf litter, roots, dead herbs and grass, dung, and humus. Chemically, their food can be characterized as lignocellulosic matter, which is the most abundant organic material in the biosphere. Termites are able to digest cellulose, and some species can also digest lignin, with the assistance of symbiotic intestinal protozoa and bacteria.
Many termites also have symbiotic relations with nitrogen fixing bacteria.
In converting lignocellulosic biomass to insect biomass, termite production supports a large proportion of tropical vertebrate biodiversity, including many species of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and ground foraging insectivorous mammals.