Termites Termites are able to eat and digest wood. They feed on decaying trees and fallen logs on the forest floor. Termites are an important insect in the forest because, by feeding on decaying trees, they break down or decompose the wood into small particles. These small particles then rot quickly to become part of the soil. This recycling of trees helps enrich the soil and make it able to support the growth of new plants.
Termites also are an important food source for many animals that live in the forest.
Some species of birds, like the woodpecker, have specially adapted body parts that enable them to feed on the termites. Woodpeckers use their strong beaks to hammer holes in decaying trees and then lick out termites with a long sticky tongue. Other animals that feed on termites include bears, turtles, salamanders, crows, blue jays, blackbirds and winter wrens. The tiny protozoa actually digest the cellulose found in wood fibres. The termite actually uses the byproducts created by the protozoa as a source of food.