Termite intestine microbes may also help flip poisonous wooden into biofuels

Of James Urquhart

Formosa termites (Coptotermes formosanus) consume vast amounts of wood

Shutterstock / Dan Olsen

Termites are known to devour wood. It has now been shown that bacteria in the intestines of a species of termite break down poisonous creosote, which is used to preserve wood. The findings could be useful in converting harmful chemically treated wood waste into biofuels.

Termite guts are tiny bioreactors full of microbes that allow insects to digest hard lignin and cellulose in wood. Previous studies suggest that these gut microorganisms may be key to converting lignocellulose – the most abundant source of renewable carbon …