Do termites kill trees?

Q.Q. · 20th September 2009, 11:40 PM

Just trying to be funny at the start no real critisium Ekka.

No just trying to show by the photos that termites out here will enter and eat the heart wood of a sound tree. Some of the previous posts doughted that. My guess is that it might be the same as trees, although the species are the same they may act differently in other regions. This isnt a real big area on rot or fungus as it is so arrid.

I also have noticed around town that alot of Silky Oaks will have termites and termite tracks on the out side but the heart wood is good. Different species again mabie, probly microcerotermes or hetrotermes.

The mud tunnel in the Box tree went about 5-6 meters from ground line.

shaun05 · 27th December 2009, 04:03 PM

I am not sure how termites would cause the direct death of a tree? Indirectly they may weaken a tree and that may lead to failure. In addition, like many xyophagous insects there is a symbiosis with a fungi (usually gastrointestinal in Isoptera) but a number of arborists in Sydney have noted this leading to structural failure in Quercus robur in particular.

Termites may predispose trees to other problems but then so can smoking cigarettes (cigarette out the window, fire = scalded tree and possibly death).

Red Dot · 12th January 2010, 07:55 PM

Harlow to the world of Tree Assessors

I'm asking this question to myself before and ended up termites do have adverse effects on tree health and after much consideration, termites will be consider secondary 'attacker' to the tree subjected to different species. Anyone have list of harmful termites which affect tree health in south east asia- Tropical tree species. Trying to explore furher.

Thank you.

Red Dot · 24th February 2010, 12:38 AM

That is the questions we been asking around sometime. Personally, it depends on termites species. Over here, Macrotermes dont eat live wood. But for certain termite species ( Coptotermitinae) it further degraded wood as secondary infection especially tree in declining stage.

windthrown · 28th April 2010, 05:45 PM

But the termites do not have the smoking guns... lest they wood have wiped out all the trees on this planet long ago. Termites here only eat dead wood from what I have seen and learned. Also from physical anthropology, termites account for far more global boimass activity than any other animal species on earth, even humans. There are a >>>lot<<< of termites out there munching away all the time.

vabene.treecare · 29th May 2010, 06:21 PM

It surely doesnt help 'em, that's for sure

View Poll Results: Do termites kill trees?
Yes	29	32.95%
No	59	67.05%
Voters: 88. You may not vote on this poll

20th September 2009, 11:40 PM	#61
Q.Q. Mature tree Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Western QLD. Australia Posts: 303	Re: Do termites kill trees? Just trying to be funny at the start no real critisium Ekka. No just trying to show by the photos that termites out here will enter and eat the heart wood of a sound tree. Some of the previous posts doughted that. My guess is that it might be the same as trees, although the species are the same they may act differently in other regions. This isnt a real big area on rot or fungus as it is so arrid. I also have noticed around town that alot of Silky Oaks will have termites and termite tracks on the out side but the heart wood is good. Different species again mabie, probly microcerotermes or hetrotermes. The mud tunnel in the Box tree went about 5-6 meters from ground line. __________________ Q,Q's Tree & Garden Maintenance FAMILARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT

27th December 2009, 04:03 PM	#62
shaun05 Former Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Penrith (Glenmore Park) Posts: 26	Re: Do termites kill trees? I am not sure how termites would cause the direct death of a tree? Indirectly they may weaken a tree and that may lead to failure. In addition, like many xyophagous insects there is a symbiosis with a fungi (usually gastrointestinal in Isoptera) but a number of arborists in Sydney have noted this leading to structural failure in Quercus robur in particular. Termites may predispose trees to other problems but then so can smoking cigarettes (cigarette out the window, fire = scalded tree and possibly death).

12th January 2010, 07:55 PM	#63
Red Dot Sappling Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: S.E.A Posts: 15	Re: Do termites kill trees? Harlow to the world of Tree Assessors I'm asking this question to myself before and ended up termites do have adverse effects on tree health and after much consideration, termites will be consider secondary 'attacker' to the tree subjected to different species. Anyone have list of harmful termites which affect tree health in south east asia- Tropical tree species. Trying to explore furher. Thank you.

24th February 2010, 12:38 AM	#64
Red Dot Sappling Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: S.E.A Posts: 15	Re: Do termites kill trees? That is the questions we been asking around sometime. Personally, it depends on termites species. Over here, Macrotermes dont eat live wood. But for certain termite species ( Coptotermitinae) it further degraded wood as secondary infection especially tree in declining stage.

28th April 2010, 05:45 PM	#65
windthrown Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the Great Pacific Northwest Posts: 1,238	Re: Do termites kill trees? But the termites do not have the smoking guns... lest they wood have wiped out all the trees on this planet long ago. Termites here only eat dead wood from what I have seen and learned. Also from physical anthropology, termites account for far more global boimass activity than any other animal species on earth, even humans. There are a >>>lot<<< of termites out there munching away all the time. __________________ . Stay thirsty my friends... Modified Stihl work saws: 310, 4 x 026 / 3 x 361 / 1 x 044 / 066 in rehab Sorry, my global parts shipping is suspended at this time.

29th May 2010, 06:21 PM	#66
vabene.treecare Sappling Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Germany, BW Posts: 5	Re: Do termites kill trees? It surely doesnt help 'em, that's for sure

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