Do termites eat concrete?

Do termites eat concrete?

Termites do not eat concrete — this is a common concern.

Can termites eat concrete?

No. Termites' mouthparts can only chew organic materials like wood (cellulose). Inorganic materials such as concrete, bricks, and metal cannot be chewed. Therefore, concrete walls themselves are not damaged by termites.

How do termites get through concrete walls?

Although termites cannot eat concrete, they can still bypass concrete barriers through the following means:

1. Concrete cracks — concrete shrinks during curing, creating cracks as fine as 1 mm or even thinner; worker termites, less than 1 mm wide, can easily pass through.
2. Building mud tubes on concrete surfaces — termites construct thin, elongated mud tubes on concrete surfaces using soil and secretions, crawling along them to reach wood. This is why mud lines sometimes appear on concrete walls.
3. Pipe and utility openings — gaps around air conditioner pipes, electrical conduits, and other wall penetrations, if not sealed tightly, allow termites to pass through.

Are concrete houses safe from termites?

No. Even if the house has a concrete frame, there are still many wood components indoors — door frames, window frames, baseboards, wooden floors, cabinets, wooden furniture, etc. Once termites pass through cracks or build mud tubes to reach these materials, they can still cause severe damage.

How to prevent termites from passing through concrete?

• Fill concrete cracks with sealant or cement mortar.
• Seal pipe penetrations with expanding foam.
• If mud tubes are found on corners, do not just scrape them off; spray insecticide first, then treat.
• Apply a dinotefuran-containing insecticide barrier around the foundation.