Bell pepper plant stem hollowed by eastern subterranean termite (Photo credit: Ted Gilbert).įigure 5. Plants attacked by termites will wilt and even die, with roots and stems possibly completely hollowed out.įigure 4.

They start at the root, munch away the bark below the soil line, and either work their way into the trunk and branches by excavating from inside or they cover the trunk with mud tunnels so they can eat the dead bark. The majority of damaging termites nest in the soil around the tree base. They don’t eat leaves or flowers, but sometimes they are found invading and eating fruits. Once they find a food source (vegetable), they start eating the bark of the roots or stem immediately below the soil surface (some people refer to the location as the soil/stem interchange point), and then they bore into and feed on the central portions, from inside out, of the root or stem of vegetables, annual flowers, young fruit trees, and potted plants.

Termites tunnel underground in search of moisture and food. High moisture levels and available food sources make gardens an ideal place for termites to invade, especially during droughty periods. Cellulose, or lignocellulose, is the basic component of the cell walls of plants. Termites nest belowground and need two things to survive and develop: moisture and cellulose. While both species primarily feed on dead wood, each is capable of attacking live crops and trees, damaging roots, stems, and even fruits. The eastern subterranean species is widely distributed throughout Alabama, while the Formosan species is established only in the southern and central parts of the state. The two most common termite species in Alabama are the eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes) and the Formosan subterranean termite ( Coptotermes formosanus). Potted tomato plant infested by eastern subterranean termite (Photo credit: Danna Bradford). Squash stem damage from eastern subterranean termite.įigure 3. Formosan subterranean termites eating a beet.įigure 2.

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