Formosan termites (Coptotermes formosanus) consume vast amounts of wood Shutterstock / Dan Olsen
Termites are renowned for devouring wood. Now, bacteria in one termite species’ guts have been shown to break down toxic creosote, which is used to preserve wood. The finding could be useful for turning harmful, chemically treated wood waste into biofuels.
Termites’ guts are tiny bioreactors teeming with microbes that allow the insects to digest tough lignin and cellulose in wood. Previous studies suggest that these gut microorganisms could be key to turning lignocellulose – the of renewable carbon on the planet – into…
