Termites eat materials that contain cellulose, which includes wood, paper, plants, sheetrock, and more. Cellulose is the main building block of plants and is found in many materials we use every day. Termites feed on many of these materials to get the cellulose they need. Besides wood, this includes plants, plant byproducts, cotton fibers, paper products, insulation, fabric, animal feces, cardboard, and straw. Termites have protozoa and bacteria in their gut that allow them to break down the cellulose fibers in wood, which is difficult for other creatures to digest. These organisms turn those cellulose fibers into a nutritious meal and allow termites access to a food source thats largely ignored by other species. Additionally, immature termites that dont yet have the bacteria and protozoa in their stomachs, soldiers, and reproductives are fed by workers. Worker termites pass on the cellulose-turned-sugar substance via a mouth-to-mouth feeding process.