Termites are notorious for eating wood. Some wood shavings are made of basalt, a mineral that does not hold on to nutrients, so it does not break down and release nutrients through composting. This mineral causes a lack of readily available nitrogen in the soil and this is what termites feed on.

There are tons of things you can do with sawdust. Use it as mulch to enhance your landscape, mix it into the soil to add nutrients, use it as insulation in your walls, or sprinkle it on your patio to improve your patio’s appearance. But did you know that the reason it attracts termites is that it is made of cellulose, which they need to make their new nests out of?

Does sawdust attract ants?

Sawdust is a mixture of wood chips, dust, and industrial waste that is used as an insecticide, fuel additive, and soil conditioner. It can also be used as safe insulation, and as a base for various items such as a sandbox, bird table, and animal feeders. 

Because sawdust is non-toxic, it is safe for use in and around wooden structures, but it is still possible for it to cause harm if it is used in a place where people are likely to be injured. In terms of ants, sawdust attracts them, if it’s moist and softened by wood decay.

What insect causes sawdust?

Sawdust is the material left behind from sawing wood or other materials. There are two insects that produce sawdust-like frass: carpenter ants and dry wood termites. Carpenter ants eat wood and produce a sawdust-like material on their cuticles. Drywood termites eat decaying plant materials and produce a sawdust-like material around their bodies.

A lot of people mistakenly think that sawdust is a byproduct of cutting or milling boards or lumber, especially if you see it on steps, window frames, or other wood furniture. Those are carpenter ants or dry wood termites, not sawdust.

Do termites cause wood shavings?

I’ve seen many people mistakenly believe that termites make up the bulk of their diet and will hunt for shavings, but this is a myth. Termites eat the wood and leave the shavings as a result of their digestive tract failing to extract any nutrients from them.

While shavings are an attraction for many species of termite, it is not a wise idea to attach termite baits to log shavings, since these baits contain chemicals that can harm or kill the termites.

What kind of wood do termites not like?

Termites have a very strange way of living. They rarely leave their homes and are instead content to live in the wood they eat, or in the wood that is made into their homes. Apparently, they are very sensitive to the chemicals in wood, and to make sure they don’t die, termites avoid wood that is treated with pesticides, so they can avoid the chemicals.

Termites usually only consume wood that is a year or more old, so some of the white pine and cedar lumber you might find at your local home improvement store are likely good to go. However, the termites may not like other types of wood, like redwood lumber, because of the way they are treated.

For example, pine is naturally full of resin, which is why it is often used as firewood. That’s because pine has a higher melting point than other common types of wood. Redwood, on the other hand, is full of sap, which can get on your skin and get into your eyes.

Conclusion

All in all, making your home termite-proof doesn’t have to be costly, but you still need to take steps to prevent termites from becoming attracted to your home. It’s surprising how much you can do with a little money.

Termites don’t just eat wood; they also consume all of the cellulose in their environment, including sawdust. It’s a good idea to store your woodpiles away from the house.