Desert termites — unlike their house-eating cousins — these ones are really beneficial

Terminix - Pest Control Commercial

Say the name of certain types of animals, birds, reptiles, plants etc around folks, and you will most assuredly get a negative response. Say the word “rattlesnake” while out on a hike, or say “shark” while swimming in the ocean, or maybe say “bees” while with a friend who is allergic to them and you are guaranteed to hear some carefully selected choice words or expressions. But what do you think comes to mind if you say the word termite ??? Generally folks automatically think of “house-devouring insect monsters” as referenced in that Terminix Ad link posted above.

Formosan Termite

This Termte here on the right is the dreaded non-native invasive Formosan Termite which was most likely brought over on a Cargo ship arriving from Asia to Louisiana. It's a tropical Termite, so it thrives down there in the humid wet south and has been extremely destructive to the New Orleans historical district. Sadly, this same pest has arrived in Riverside County, California back in 2020 and is there to stay in SoCal. (READ HERE)  There are other species that attack houses and other buildings. However, they are just a part of nature and are major components in the Earth's recycling system. Without them much debris would take longer to break down. But like so many other species they get demonized because they become an inconvenient lifeform which has become out of balance as a result of human ignorant.  For example, often times their access to our human infrastructure is made more easily available because of human error. Let's  just take the subterranean Termites as an example who come up through the ground into our homes. The presence of moisture is the primary driver as far as acting as a magnet for such critters. They need and yes require moisture. Watching many home improvement shows where a purchased house has an area of Termite damage unseen before the purchase,  the main reason after investigation was the presence of water either from a leaky pipe where water made it's way to the ground saturating it or bad water drainage in the landscape which allows rainwater to move towards the house and it's foundation which attracted the pests. I get it, nobody wants Termites, but they do what they do and as a result of human mismanagement of our planet's ecosystems they get out of control. But let's move on and accept they just do what they do.

However, just as all sharks are not man-eaters and rattlesnakes aren't really looking for a confrontation, not all termites are out to consume human civilization's structures. One type of termite that is more interested in the dead woody materials of plants resides here in our southwestern regions, and that type is the appropriately named Desert EncrusterTermite. This is one termite species you don’t need to worry about, and is a very important component of Southwest's  ecology. This Desert Termite (Gnathamitermes perplexus) and it's homes are something I always saw as a kid hiking up Rattlesnake Mountain in El Cajon, California in spring after winter rains where they created dried mud tubes covering last year's dried woody stems of the non-native invasive black Mustard. They're different from other building damaging termites in that they don't enter or eat chunks of wood. They are definitely beneficial. I remember in High School Biology class we learned that most termites have protozoa in their stomachs which help them digest the cellulose in wood. In other words without the protozoa, they'd starve on wood. Same with us and our multiple species of beneficial gut bacteria. Our stomach would never be able to process foods we eat. But with Desert Encruster Termites, instead of Protozoa, have bacteria which are capable of fixing nitrogen in the soil. So they actually perform an important  service of fertilizing the soil

These Desert Encruster Termites can be seen to have built their layers of mud on the bases of Saguaros Cactus or even in urban areas where palm trees will have mud plastered at the based of their trunks. This is interesting, because in the desert if a Saguaro dies, no amount of natural fungus will breakdown the tissues and converting cellulose back to soil nutrients and the reason is lack of moisture for the fungus to survive in the dry hot arid environment. However, Desert Encruster Termites can do this task very effectively.

The Desert Termites also plaster mud cylinders over dry grass or twigs on the ground, particularly after a rain. Over time they eat the grasses or twigs, leaving a hollow tube of dried mud. I remember these hollow tubes up on Rattlesnake Mountain when I was a kid. Back then it seemed like there were millions of these mud tubes everywhere. Especially around dead Mustard and Wild Radish which become very woody and don't break down as fast as other plants like the native perennials. These termites are an important link in adding nutrition to desert soils and certainly in reducing fuel for fire. Without these termites, many woody non-natives  would leave behind dense mats of materials which would eventually chock natives out more than they already do. Also, by tunneling in and moving soil, they aerate it, making it better for plants to grow their root networks in 

The funny thing about clients who contact pest control companies about Desert Termites is they complain about their lawns being attacked. Last time I visited El Cajon, California, where I grew up, I noticed numerous landscapes dried and dead, especially lawns. Why ??? Because of drought which has made water availability more of a dire challenge and the insane water rates charge by almost all water companies now. If the water fees don't get them, they sewer fees which are based on amount of water purchased are also extreme. It doesn't matter that over 50% of your water use is in the landscape and garden. They don't care. But the result is people have stopped irrigating much of their landscape, especially the lawns. As a result lawns have dry patches and people may have noticed how Termites have made their mud coverings. But these are the Desert Termites and they DO NOT attack living tissue, they want dead materials. Take note of what Pest Control Companies say about calls for exterminating pests in their landscapes. Here are two well known names and there are more with similar takes on the Desert Encruster Termites.

Image from Wiki-Commons - Sonoran Desert, Arizona

What the Pest Control Say About Desert Encruster Termites

"If needed, your pest management or lawn professional is the best person to identify desert termites to ensure the termites on your property are not one of the serious, wood-damaging subterranean termite species. Correct identification is critical since desert termites are likely to benefit, rather than harm, rangelands, crops or turf.

In addition, desert termites rarely damage structures on the homeowner’s property. Therefore, desert termite control in turf grass is not recommended. Instead, practice normal lawn care by using sufficient amounts of water and fertilizer, which usually overcomes any turf-related problems caused by desert termite feeding"

ORKIN: DESERT TERMITE FACTS & INFORMATION

Desert Termite Behavior and Habitat

"What desert termites do best is what termites do naturally in the wild. They break down dead plant material into usable nutrients that replenish depleted soil. Additionally, desert termite nesting habits can improve soil and increase water retention. Overall, desert termites benefit desert ecosystems and are considered keystone species in the Chihuahuan Desert"

TRULY NOLEN: DESERT TERMITES

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So What Is the Solution If You Find Desert Termites in your Lawn ??? 😲

Image by Abbie David

Well, first off don't panic. Don't call a Pest Control Company or make an unwaranted visit  to Home Depot or Lowes Home Improvement for your favoured toxic science-based cocktail. As the ORKIN website recommended above:

"Instead, practice normal lawn care by using sufficient amounts of water and fertilizer, which usually overcomes any turf-related problems caused by desert termite feeding."

"The works of Jehovah are great; They are studied by all those finding pleasure in them" - Psalm 111:2 

Now go out and enjoy your hike 🤠