These termites thrive in soil with high levels of moisture and build mud tubes from mud, soil, chewed wood, droppings and saliva. They are no bigger than the width of a pencil. These termites ...

Fact checked by Khara Scheppmann In the forest and other natural settings, termites are beneficial insects that recycle woody debris, such as dead trees, and return nutrients to the soil.

“Termites are eating wood year round, but in the springtime is when the termite actually swarms,” said Natasha Wright, an entomologist at Braman Termite & Pest Elimination. “It produces a particular ...