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Bacteria, Viruses, and Protists

Bacteria Basics

Does a connection exist between termites and bacteria?

Adefinite connection—a symbiotic relationship—between termites and bacteria exists. In particular, according to a study in 2013, more than 4,500 different species of bacteria live in termite guts! These bacteria help termites to extract nutrients from woody materials—although the bacteria don’t seem to have anything to do with the termite digestion (which may be genetically inherent in the termite itself). This may be of biological interest, but to the homeowner, termites often mean huge repair bills. After all, in the United States, the cost of controlling termites and repairing the damage from the creatures is about $2 billion per year.



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