XYLOPHAGUS

Xylophago is an adjective that is used in the field of zoology to describe insects that feed on wood. There are animals of different orders that include wood in their diet.

While there are insects that feed according to the type of plant, others choose the wood based on the characteristics it presents (its conservation, hardness, if it has fungi, etc.). The digestion of food also develops in different ways according to the species in question.

There are xylophagous insects that have cellulase, an enzyme that enables the decomposition of cellulose and its transformation into glucose. Others can develop the processing of cellulose through the bacteria that they harbor in their digestive system.

The Isoptera, in colloquial language known as termites, are an example typical of xylophagous animals. These insects eat wood to obtain the cellulose that they decompose through the action of protozoa, organisms with which they maintain a symbiotic relationship. Termites are frequent protagonists of cartoons, where they eat furniture such as tables and chairs very quickly; in real life, of course, the process is much slower.

While in nature all xylophagous species fulfill a necessary function for balance, when crossing with humans they become a threat to their organization in society, since wood is one of the most used materials in modern life: Not only our furniture is usually made of wood, but it also supports the construction of a significant percentage of homes around the world.

Termites, as well as mice and cockroaches, are not destructive species and should not be considered negative: we are the invaders, the ones who disrupt the balance and create a large number of situations for which the planet was not prepared. However, we manufacture cockroach poison and mouse traps, and we also organize against termites, to maintain the integrity of our belongings, no matter how we kill millions of living things along the way.

It is important to note that, beyond insects, there are also other animals considered xylophagous, such as the panda bear (a mammal that feeds on bamboo ), the bivalve mollusk known as joke and a species of catfish. In many cases, the wood intake is complemented by the consumption of other foods that provide different nutrients.

The panda bear is, like the termite, an animal that enjoys great popularity in the field of fiction, although in its case the scope is greater, since having a more friendly and pleasant appearance to human eyes, They also give rise to the design of dolls made of various materials, from stuffed animals to plastic. Although it is correct to say that it is a xylophagous species, since 99% of its diet focuses on bamboo wood, it is worth mentioning that its diet includes other elements.

In addition to the almost thirty species of bamboo that are part of the panda's diet, this particular mammal can also eat eggs and insects, which comprise its source of protein, without neglecting some species of small mammals, mainly rodents.

This brings us to the functioning of your body: the aforementioned versatility can only take place thanks to the fact that your digestive system has adapted to carry out the assimilation of cellulose molecules; However, as it is not a completely xylophagous animal, this task takes more work than others and does not perform it efficiently, which is why it eats much more wood than necessary.