Do Termites Eat Cardboard? {Does Cardboard Attract Termites?}

Do you have cardboard that looks like its been eaten? Have you seen a termite and you wonder, “Do termites eat cardboard?”

Was it them that ate your cardboard? Why do they do it?

I will cover everything you need to know below.

Do Termites Eat Cardboard?

Yes, termites eat cardboard boxes because it’s a source of cellulose on which they feed. Not only cardboard, firewood, lumber, newspaper, and their cellulose materials attract termites and provide a source of food. Therefore, you can say cardboard boxes attract termites.

If it’s true, then can we use cardboard boxes as trap?

If you want to know whether termites are eating cardboard or other wooden things, then check for the warning signs. Sand, gritty residue, are clear signs of destruction, warned by Albuquerque Journal.

According to the Louisiana State University, College of Agriculture, Termites can ride in the cardboard boxes, enter in your house, infest in the walls, attic, devour your drywalls, and even thin sheets of lead.

Does Cardboard Attract Termites?

Yes. Cardboard is a very attractive source of food for termites. The cellulose contained in cardboard allows termites to feast. Cardboard is located all over your house and usually used as a item for storage purposes.

We tend to put cardboard in areas that are dark or out of sight. This gives termites a long time to create a lot of damage to the cardboard and surrounding wood once they are finished with it.

If you suspect an infestation of termites, it’s best to get rid of all cardboard that is lying around the house. If you have important cardboard boxes, then keep them in locations that are farthest away from any location you suspect termites to be.

Do Cardboard Boxes Attract Termites?

Yes. Cardboard boxes attract termites because of the cellulose which termites love to eat. The same way we are attracted by the sweet scents of delicious food, a cardboard box can do the same for a termite.

If cardboard boxes are stored in moist or humid areas they will only become more attractive because termites love to dwell in such climates.

You may not notice your cardboard box for quite some time because you use it for storage. The next time you take a look inside your cardboard box, you may notice that chunks of it are missing.

If you have papers or books inside a cardboard box, it will also be eaten by termites.

How Do You Kill Termites in Cardboard?

The trick is to turn what termites love against them. Invite the termites into a wet cardboard box that is humid and full of delicious cellulose. This is the termites dream come true.

Sweeten the feast by adding small strips of wood into the box as well if you want. You will soon see a large group of termites devouring the cardboard and contents within.

This is when the dream turns into a nightmare. Simply take the box and burn it. Repeat this process until all the termites have left other locations around your home.

What Does It Look Like When Termites Eat Cardboard?

If you would like to witness termites feasting, then simply use the wet cardboard box trick. Since they love humid, moist environments and the taste of cellulose contained within cardboard, place the box near the locations where you suspect them to be.

Watch how they pace back and forth in massive numbers to create a type of vacuum cleaning effect. They will scrape away at the cardboard until there are holes or massive chunks missing.

You can also hear termites making a clicking noise that kind of sounds like grasshoppers.

How to Make Cardboard Bait for Termites?

They love wood fiber which is present in cardboard and paper. You can make a cardboard termite trap.

Simply break the boxes and wet them to soften the cardboard. Keep the wet layers of it stacked up near the infestation. The soft pulp of the cardboard will attract termites that are around. Some of them may feed upon the cellulose in it.

Continue this for two to three days. When all the termites attack the cardboard for the cellulose presents in it, burn the stack and kill them all.

Seal the cracks or holes of your furniture to protect it. You can also use these homemade remedies to kill termites in future.

As now you know, termites get attract towards cardboards, so you can use household products like 20 Mule Team Borax to kill termites on cardboard boxes.

Do Cockroaches Eat Cardboard?

Cockroaches are one of the most common types of insects who eat cardboard. There are many types of cockroaches like German, Oriental, American and brown-banded species, and all of these enjoy eating cardboard, books, and pictures in your home.

According to the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County that, they also like living on porous materials like cardboard, because they saturate them with their own scent secretions.

These secretions attract other cockroaches because they prefer to live in groups and therefore you’ll find them all in one place.

These cockroaches carry disease germs and they spread allergic reactions to the people, that’s why they should be eliminated from your home.

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Do Silverfish Eat Cardboard?

Silverfish are no different than termites and cockroaches. They also prefer to live in warm and humid spaces in your home. They enjoy eating both components of cardboard, which includes starchy paper products and glue.

According to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, small silverfish are around the ¾ size of an inch in length and silver to brown in color with bodies covered in scales.

They are most active at night. They are not harmful to people but can damage books, boxes etc.

Other Cardboard Eating Bugs and Insects

According to the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, other insects like the ones below will occasionally nibble on cardboard.

Woodboring
Drugstore
Larder
Carpet Beetles
Cloth Moths
Booklice

To prevent any cardboard eating bugs, keep books in sealed plastic bags.

Get rid of boxes because these attract them and you’ll find bugs in cardboard, and clean your home regularly. When there will be no cardboard to eat for insects, you’ll find a decrease in their number.

Conclusion

We now know that termites eat cardboard because of the cellulose present in it.

Thanks for visiting ThePestManagement.com for the best information to help you to make the pest control process easy, safe & affordable.

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